Clunking after lowering, what can it be?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,905
Likes: 205
From: Kern County CA
Clunking after lowering, what can it be?
I lowered the car by cutting bushings front and rear, retaining the stock rear bolts. Last night when I made a hard 90 degree turn, a little off-camber I heard multiple clunking sounds. As far as I could tell, the sounds were toward the rear of the car. Jacked up the car tonight and didn't find anything out of the ordinary. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Thanks,
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,013
Likes: 80
From: Manitoba/San Jose del Cabo
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '11
Re: Clunking after lowering, what can it be? (Rapid Transit)
When I was coming back from Cruise-in 3, we were coming through the mountains and when ever I took a hard sweeping left at speed I would get a repetitive clunking sound on the right rear side, sounded like I thought I was tearing my tire to shreds from rubbing. Almost sounded like a knuckle from a drive shaft universal hitting something every rotation. (even though I knew that is not what it was, it just sounds like that.) We were loaded down pretty good with luggage, plus my car was lowered over 2" to start with. Never did find out what it was, but when I got home I raised the car 1/2" and it has never done it again. :confused: :cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 0
From: Rockford IL
Re: Clunking after lowering, what can it be? (Rapid Transit)
Did you replace the shocks also? If you did, make sure they are tight. When I first lowered mine, I had a squeeking noise, and it was due to the rubber bushing on top of the shock not being tight.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,905
Likes: 205
From: Kern County CA
Re: Clunking after lowering, what can it be? (racer44)
I heard the sounds as I made a left turn (as you did!).
I'll also check for the sway bar bolts. No, I didn't replace the shocks.
Definitely not due to the pavement, it was smooth.
Thanks for all the replies.
I'll also check for the sway bar bolts. No, I didn't replace the shocks.
Definitely not due to the pavement, it was smooth.
Thanks for all the replies.
Racer
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
Re: Clunking after lowering, what can it be? (Rapid Transit)
I posted something on this several weeks ago. I had clunking after suspensions mods. What I found was that all the bolts I touched for the suspension mods were tight to spec and I still had clunking. I over torqued the sway bar endlinks because everyone on this forum say this could be the source of the noise. Still had clunking. Went back under the rear of the car and found that half of all the bolts in the suspension were only torqued to half the specs called out. I re-torqued all, and the noise was gone! The freakin' four bolts that hold the rear suspension cradle to the frame were only 30 foot pounds and the spec is 80! Now going down the track at 135mph won't be as nerve racking. I brought this issue up to a chevy mechanic and he said he finds this often!
