Since I have been driving her a bit more, I've noticed an intermittent "clunk" which seems to be emanating from the near the top of the rear hatch, when going over a medium-sized road bump. The car has new Bilstein shocks and all of the suspension bushings look good. Rear hatch weatherstrip is in good condition. Inspecting the rear hatch, one of the pivot pins that attach the hatch lift struts to the body was a bit loose - tightened that. There seemed to be no play at all in the top hatch hinges, but I pulled the interior trim panels and tightened the nuts about half a turn. They were snug, but not tight. I also tightened the 4 nuts that secure the hatch glass to the hinge plate - they were likewise snug, but not tight.
After this, it seems to take a slightly larger road bump to make the clunk, but it still occurs. I bought a set of stabilizer link bushings, but the "clunk" isn't from down low, it seems like it is right behind my head. Before I get too far down the rabbit hole, has anyone had the same issue and found the cause? The car has other rattles, but this is different...
Ok you admitted new Bilstein's if they aren't tight in all 4 Corners it can get a bit noisy, you already hit one of the overlooked rattles the hatch and struts.
Several of us have noted the plastic "coating" on the rear latch wore off causing metal-to-metal contact. Plus, it creates a bit of slack where it will "clunck" over bumps. The shape of the rear glass is semi-parabolic, transferring sound much closer.
Ok you admitted new Bilstein's if they aren't tight in all 4 Corners it can get a bit noisy, you already hit one of the overlooked rattles the hatch and struts.
Go over your roof hardware and mounting points
Those 4 bolts are tight.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GREGGPENN
Several of us have noted the plastic "coating" on the rear latch wore off causing metal-to-metal contact. Plus, it creates a bit of slack where it will "clunck" over bumps. The shape of the rear glass is semi-parabolic, transferring sound much closer.
Mine's still good, but curious what you all's fix is for that? Only thing I can think of would be to take some plastidip and add a drop of hardener to the mix 🤷🏻♂️
So, today I did some more checking. My hatch striker looks pretty good (compared to some of the other photos I've seen:
The latch attachment nuts were also secure, no play. So I'm pretty much back to square one. I guess I'll replace the stabilizer link bushings, since I have them and the currently installed ones are original.
Check the fuel door. I don't know how loud your clunk is but my 84 fuel door was worn out and would thud or clunk over certain bumps. I fixed it by placing some foam tape under the upper hinge mount. It wasn't as loud as letting the door slam closed but the tone was very similar. It took me a few weeks to figure it out.
I don't have this problem (yet), but this thread has been very helpful in filling my brain with the things to check when this happens to me. Thanks CF!
Check the fuel door. I don't know how loud your clunk is but my 84 fuel door was worn out and would thud or clunk over certain bumps. I fixed it by placing some foam tape under the upper hinge mount. It wasn't as loud as letting the door slam closed but the tone was very similar. It took me a few weeks to figure it out.
My Fuel Door looks OK, but I can't really watch it as I take the bumps. I will tape it open and try again.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kenmohr
Had a clunk on mine. Found it to be spare tire carrier was not tight. When I hit a bump it would bounce.
My spare carrier is tight, and the jack package is secure.
As I mentioned previously, the clunk seems to be directly behind and above my head. The removable roof panel bolts are tight, but I'm wondering if the threaded plates that the rear 2 bolts screw into could be loose in the halo. I'll have to remove the roof panel and check those next...
So, I had checked the 4 roof attach bolts and they were tight. Today, I removed the roof to check the rest of the hardware. Turned out that both of the rear roof panel locator brackets were loose:
About one turn with a Torx T-30 tightened them up. While I had the roof panel off (a rare occurrence for me), I treated all of the weatherstrip with Sil-Glyde. Test drive over many bumps didn't produce the previous clunking noise. So, no new stabilizer link bushings for me...
