Another Guess That Noise Question...

[Lookin4SVX]

So I have this noise coming from the what sounds like the rear of the car.
I had noticed it from time to time, but usually its drowned out by other clanking and banging.
Well now that I installed Nevin's sway bar, most of the clanking noise from the rear end is gone.
Unfortunately, now that other noise is more prominent...

OK, give it a listen (click on the Pic below):



Here are pics of under the car if that helps:




So what do I need to replace now?

[Sean486]

Is it something to do with the exhaust?

[fjm57]

Sounds like a loose baffle in the exhaust.

[Hocrest]

Sounds like there is something loose in the trunk, like a camera or something...

Can you get it to make the noise with the car still, by shaking/bouncing around the back end? If so, yeah could be a muffler heat shield. But they are usually "tinier" and not clunky.

Could be a strut top mount??

The rear diff bushings look pretty nasty, but I don't think that's the sound.

[dcarrb]

Originally Posted by Hocrest

Could be a strut top mount??

That's what it sounds like to me.

dcb

[Lookin4SVX]

Top rear strut mount was my original feeling.
Where are they located and should signs of wear/damage be visible?

You know, I never considered bouncing the car around while parked. Maybe I will do that later.

I really don't think it is coming from the exhaust. I had some really bad buzz/rattle from my exhaust a month ago.
I thought it was a heat shield, so I went to have it tacked back. Two garages later, both said none of the heat shields are loose.
On 6-11-10 I had my resonator removed and that fixed that problem.

Exhaust baffle eh? is that inside the big muffler piece behind the tires?

My mechanic said that the front strut mounts should be replaced eventually... Something about 18 year old rubber or something.
I would imagine the rears are in the same condition.
Here is a pic of the FRONT drivers strut, Is this what the rears look like too? what pieces would I need?

[Lookin4SVX]

Originally Posted by Hocrest

The rear diff bushings look pretty nasty, but I don't think that's the sound.

So there also should be bushings in these holes?

[SURTEESS]

Well it is not like the rear diff mounts - my sound was a lot more of a constant rumble (bit like wheel bearing issue).

So I suspect it is road noise transferring through suspension tower into body?
(have you tried on a really smooth road at various speeds - slower speed less noise/faster speed more noise).

My 2 pennies worth.

Steve in NZ

[Lookin4SVX]

The noise is not there on smooth road, no matter what speed.
It only make noise when the rear-end moves.
Which is what lead my gut to feel it is suspension related.

The audio from the trunk is on this horrible pothole filled road. I wanted to pick a bad spot to record it at.

[92_LSL]

my svx has a similar noise and i found out mine was from bad sway bar bushings.

[bcpianoman]

Check the brake calipers. Does the sound go away when you apply the brakes?

[Blacky]

If your rear strut mounts look like mine did, you just need to put your hand way up at the top of the rear springs and you'll feel the crumbling remains of them.

[Lookin4SVX]

Originally Posted by Hocrest

Can you get it to make the noise with the car still, by shaking/bouncing around the back end?

Well I went outside this morning and started to shake the crap out of the rear end of the car.
I can reproduce the noise while parked.

Watch the new video:


And no stepping on the brakes doesn't make it go away.
Shaking at the calipers was the very first thing I tried. I had a loose front one and it sounded similar to me also.

Does this help identify the problem?

[Lookin4SVX]

Originally Posted by 92_LSL

my svx has a similar noise and i found out mine was from bad sway bar bushings.

Well like I said, I just replaced the sway bar and bushing.
It is totally possible I screwed up mounting them.

Please check my work, does anything look out of place?
These are the best shot I have of the bushings:

[Hocrest]

OK, it's not the diff mount bushings.
Next get under the car and grab each suspension part and try to shake it in various directions.