Clunking in rear

I hear a clunking coming from the rear of the vehicle.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi, when does this occur? There could be multiple things involved. If it happens when you shift from reverse to drive or vice versa, the gearing in your rear differential may be misaligned creating a larger than normal gap between the teeth of the gears. When the driveshaft switches direction the teeth will clink together as they come in contact. If this occurs while driving, or when taking off from a stop, there is most likely something with the suspension. Please take care driving the car as you could severely damage other components if driven too hard. Have a certified technician help you inspect the vehicle to assess where the source of the noise is.

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This symptom typically happens when you have a suspension issue, and occurs when driving over bumps, uneven surfaces, debris, potholes, and more. It could be that some suspension part is loose or broken. The suspension system is fairly complex, so finding the exact source of the noise can be tricky to do by yourself.
Commonly, engine knocking occurs because of a buildup of oily carbon deposits inside the combustion chamber. This can be caused by burning oil or incomplete combustion from misfires, which coats pistons, cylinder heads, and other parts of your engine with residue.
Sway bars can help keep a vehicle from rolling over when going around a sharp corner. If the sway bar breaks or is damaged it may produce a clunking or knocking sound, especially when going over bumps. Your vehicle may also had more difficulty handling when the sway bar is damaged.
The machine work on GM splines appears extremely rough. The driveshaft yoke plunges in and binds. When the rear springs relax, the tension becomes sufficient and the yoke is yanked back into position. This is the cause of the loud clunk.
If you`re driving down the road and you start to hear a clunking, rattling or metal-on-metal scratching noise, it is possibly the stabilizer bar links causing the sound. The stabilizer bar links are supposed to fit incredibly snugly, without any play or movement except between rubber bushings.
There is most likely nothing wrong with the replacement shock or strut, but a metallic clunking noise typically indicates loose or worn mounting hardware. A loose mount can allow movement between the bolt and attaching parts, while a mount that is worn can cause the shock/strut to move up and down.
Clunking

If the clunk happens when you drive over bumps, there might be a problem with your car`s suspension, or part of the exhaust could be loose. However, if your car clunks when you`re turning corners, it could be a problem with the steering, wheels and tyres, or a worn-out wheel bearing.

In case of a knock sensor failure, the PCM may not be able to recognize or fix the spark knock frequency. The failed sensor can result in a metallic pinging noise from the engine. You`ll also notice that the noise gets most prominent when the engine is under a heavy load.
It`s easy to misdiagnose the cause of engine knock, so you might have to pay a visit to your mechanic. Each of the engine knock causes on the previous page has a specific cure, and most of these fixes are simple. However, it doesn`t guarantee the knock will go away.
You may not think a lot about your car`s suspension system, but if it fails, it can quite literally stop you in your tracks. Driving with a broken or worn out suspension system not only puts unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle`s tires, but it can put you—and others on the road—at serious risk.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

aloha! i was told it would cost me $1870 to get a rear axle replacement. i have a 2006 toyota sequoia with mileage of 80,000. it
ANSWER : Aloha. Ah – the infamous "it’s all gone" excuse. To be quite blunt, you’re being ripped off. If a professional mechanic can’t explain what exactly is damaged with any mechanical component, they are taking advantage of you. I would get your car back and contact a different mechanic. Or, feel free to send us some information about the symptoms your car is experiencing that led you to take the car to the mechanic in the first place. Maybe we can help diagnose your issue and allow you to bring that info to a different mechanic. Mahalo.

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Clunking noise from rear suspension
ANSWER : It is possible that you could have some play in your rear control arm bushings or rear toe adjustment links. I would recommend having a rear suspension inspection performed by a qualified professional to determine where the noise is coming from. This will include shaking down the wheels in all directions and noting excessive movements. Once the exact part that is causing the issue has been diagnosed and replaced, an alignment will be required in order to bring the vehicle back to specification.

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Rear brakes not grabbing – 1995 GMC K2500
ANSWER : Hello. It is not in the ABS, but may be the proportional valve not giving the correct pressure split front to the rear. The vehicle never had enough pressure for the rear brakes. Have the rear shoes adjusted properly if you have drum brakes. You should check to see if there is an updated part to replace the old one. If you would like to have this done, a certified technician from YourMechanic can inspect the brake system and let you know what repairs are needed.

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I hear a rattling noise in the back of my car.I was told I need rear struts not sure which parts
ANSWER : Hi there. I would strongly recommend having a professional mechanic accurately diagnose the issue you’re having if you are going to have a private, non-Mercedes Benz certified mechanic complete these repairs. By having one of our mobile mechanics come to your location and completing a car is making a noise inspection, they will be able to pinpoint the source of your noise and recommend the right repairs.

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Can front wheel drive car engine power rear wheel drive
ANSWER : Anything is possible with enough engineering. The changes you are looking at would take major structural changes and would definitely not be an easy job. You could possibly consult a manufacturing engineer to get more details on how this could actually be carried out and whether it would be feasible.

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Clunking noises in the rear wheel area
ANSWER : Hello Evander,
This is a common sign of a failing CV joint. A CV (Constant Velocity) joint is a shaft that connects the transmission to the wheels, essentially transferring the power from the drive train directly to the wheels. The CV joint is packed with a special grease and sealed tight with the rubber or plastic boot, that is held in place with two clamps. The most common problem with the CV joints is when the protective boot cracks or gets damaged. Once this happens, the grease comes out and moisture and dirt get in, causing the CV joint to wear faster and eventually fail due to lack of lubrication and corrosion. When the CV joint becomes damaged or worn, you may hear a clicking or popping sound coming from this area. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your CV joints.

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96 maxima been clunking for a while we replaced all struts/shocks ball joint control arm exaust..sway bushings…still clunks
ANSWER : What you are describing sounds like a failing CV joint. A CV (Constant Velocity) joint is a shaft that connects the transmission to the wheels, essentially transferring the power from the drive train directly to the wheels. The CV joint is packed with a special grease and sealed tight with the rubber or plastic boot, that is held in place with two clamps. The most common problem with the CV joints is when the protective boot cracks or gets damaged. Once this happens, the grease comes out and moisture and dirt get in, causing the CV joint to wear faster and eventually fail due to lack of lubrication and corrosion. When the CV joint becomes damaged or worn, you may hear a clicking, clunking or popping sound coming from this area as the weight of the vehicle puts pressure on this area and shifts back and forth and side to side. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.

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Knocking/fluttering in rear end
ANSWER : Hi and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. If you have a limited slip differential, then having 2 different size tires on the axle will cause the limited slip differential to make this noise. Eventually, the limited slip will stop working and your vehicle will then drive normal with burnt clutch material in the differential oil. I suggest putting the odd size tire on the front of the vehicle and putting a regular size tire on the rear. If you would like to have another local expert inspect the car in person, a qualified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to pinpoint the proper fix.

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