Body Noise - Rear End - Troubleshooting

[RedWings69]

Need some guidance if anyone has ever experienced and what you found. I am getting a loud clunk from what I can tell is the rear passenger area every time I turn to the right around a tight corner, even when going slow or fast. Does not happen if its a sweeping turn. It also happens when coming out of the garage and one end goes down the driveway curb before the other rear tire. I have checked everything, every bolt/nut that I can get too. I know it has to do with boy roll or maybe axle?

 

[Speedrdr]

Had a clunk in my ‘72 as you describe. My problem was with the lift blocks under the rear springs. Everything was TIGHT but the spring locating pins had broken and after I got rid of the blocks and changed springs, the clunk went away.
If you have lift blocks, May be worth a check.

Randy

 

[blade]

How are the wheel bearings? Also lift the rear axle and check if there is a lot of play in the differential. I had a mustang trac loc that would make a pop when turning, the clutches were worn and it destroyed the spider gears.

 

[RedWings69]

Don't have lift blocks and I pulled the springs to ensure I did not have a broken alignment bolt but thanks for the suggestions Speedrdr

 

[RedWings69]

How are the wheel bearings? Also lift the rear axle and check if there is a lot of play in the differential. I had a mustang trac loc that would make a pop when turning, the clutches were worn and it destroyed the spider gears.

I have checked wheels bearing and everything seems tight. For someone new at this - hoe do you check and know how much play should be in the diff? Everything I have researched and looked at points to the axle/diff but have never gone that deep into a repair.

 

[hsach]

I had a similar clunk for years in my '78. Never could find it since it only happened when driving. When I replaced my gas tank a little while ago, I used much better rubber material for the straps and made sure everything was tight, it seemed tight before, and now it is more quiet than it has ever been. That big clunk going over certain bumps, completely gone. I would have bet everything it was suspension or driveline related. Just another avenue to explore, good luck.

 

[Slowleak]

Check your spring and shackle bushings. They can look fine but when you turn, the bushing sleeve can slide on the rubber insert when you turn. Then it straightens out and does it the next time you turn. Mine did it when I turned right out of my driveway. I put a big cable tie between the bushing and the mount. You can see it poking out of there in the pic. That whole thing was shifting left and smacking the frame bracket. Problem solved until I replace the bushing….. You might want to put some cable ties in there and see if the noise goes away.

 

[blade]

Here are a couple of videos with some of the ways to diagnose problems with the diff.

 

[RedWings69]

Check your spring and shackle bushings. They can look fine but when you turn, the bushing sleeve can slide on the rubber insert when you turn. Then it straightens out and does it the next time you turn. Mine did it when I turned right out of my driveway. I put a big cable tie between the bushing and the mount. You can see it poking out of there in the pic. That whole thing was shifting left and smacking the frame bracket. Problem solved until I replace the bushing….. You might want to put some cable ties in there and see if the noise goes away.

Ziptie placed and problem solved! Thank you so much - saved me a ton of diag on this - now to go shopping and add another project to the list! Thanks again.

 

[MarsChariot]

Someone want to translate this for me? I am not seeing (a) the cable tie, and (b) how a cable tie can do anything to stop the condition being described. What am I not clear about with this? The reason I ask is that I have asimilar noise and am really interested in seeing if this is the issue.

 

[Oldtimer]

 

[RedWings69]

see previous and this pic on mine that I just did - its not the fix but it sure did isolate it to the problem. It stoped leaf spring shackle from sliding over and making noise. Mine was in the rear passenger but as soon as I put one ziptie on I quickly realized that all the bushing were bad.