Rear Suspension Noise (video)

[SkyGuy41]

Hey everyone, need some help...

I recently had a lift installed: Bilstein 5100 on all for corners, OME 883 front coils with bilsteins set at 0. Where my problem lies is the rear. I have the bilstein 5100 shocks paired with sway-away 1.5 coils. Love the way it looks and rides great EXCEPT when I go over a bump, take a left turn into a hill (my driveway), or when I crest a steep hill. It makes the sound you hear in the video; BUT ONLY ON THE RIGHT REAR SIDE. Sometimes that sound will happen twice once loud and another not quite as loud. I've read many threads regarding suspension noise and what to check i.e sway bar links, sway bar bushings etc. I checked to make sure everything was tightened down and there was no "play" in anything. I even took it to the shop where I had it installed and he is at a loss as well. Is my shock bottoming out or topping out? Maybe my spring shifting? Besides the causes mentioned before, it doesn't happen when I'm driving over potholes are other minor road imperfections. I'm at a loss. Any help is appreciated.

http://youtu.be/4xKtCybh-o4

 

[chompster4runner]

May sound silly but are your lugs tighten down?

 

[SkyGuy41]

Yes they are. Everything was torqued down good. I'm gonna go over everything again in the morning to be sure.

But something else worthy to note; on my way home from work his morning I filled up the tank...couldn't reproduce the sound afterward. The sound was occurring with a quarter of a tank the other night...

 

[t-man]

Check your control arm bushings back there? One on each end of the upper and lower control arms, plus on each end of the track bar. If any of those are worn on the inside they will rattle like hell. Might have to lift the truck and try to wiggle things around, see if you can make it move.

 

[turbo8]

Make sure the shock mounts are tight and all the bushings are in the right place.

 

[SkyGuy41]

Just finished making sure everything is tight, again. All my bushings look good, sway bar and sway bar links are tight. Shock mounts are tight as well. Since I'm getting desperate, and just to be sure, the rear shocks are to be mounted- washer->rubber->rubber->washer->bolt correct? If that makes sense :ybrick:

 

[t-man]

Ya sounds correct. That's weird, there isn't something bouncing around is there?

 

[SkyGuy41]

Negative. Everything is locked in. I even looked a round for orange dust to see if there is a bolt loose that's been recently tightened. Not that there's that much rust, but still. I'm getting concerned my shock is either topping out or bottoming out. But, like I stated earlier, since I've filled up the tank I can't reproduce the sound. But I'm guessing it's going to come back once I get below half a tank.

 

[fdbyrne]

I'll be honest, I didn't click on the link to listen to the sound. I try not to click on external links. Too many bad things can happen.

With that said, I think it's likely your sway bar bushings. Mine were bad and made that sound in the same circumstances you describe. It drove me crazy trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. I ended up pulling my sway bar completely off and driving it around for a few days. When I did that and the noise stopped I knew I was on to something. You couldn't tell that there was anything wrong with them while the bar was on the truck.

Just pull your bar. If the noise goes away, order some bushings and links. They're cheap enough that you won't feel it in your wallet even if you're wrong.

 

[SkyGuy41]

I'll be honest, I didn't click on the link to listen to the sound. I try not to click on external links. Too many bad things can happen.

With that said, I think it's likely your sway bar bushings. Mine were bad and made that sound in the same circumstances you describe. It drove me crazy trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. I ended up pulling my sway bar completely off and driving it around for a few days. When I did that and the noise stopped I knew I was on to something. You couldn't tell that there was anything wrong with them while the bar was on the truck.

Just pull your bar. If the noise goes away, order some bushings and links. They're cheap enough that you won't feel it in your wallet even if you're wrong.

If the dreaded clunk comes back after my tank gets lower I'll probably switch out my sway bar links and bushings. The reason why I'm going to put that off is because like I said before, they all look really good. Not dry or cracked. Quite rubbery and plush so to speak; and solid. But you are right sir, I need to start eliminating possible culprits. Even if all "looks" well... I'll hopefully update soon. Thanks to everyone for your insight and help. I'm still open to more advice and suggestions.

ALSO: In the mean time I'll be researching new rear sway bar links just in case that's the problem. Any suggestions which ones I should get?

 

[fdbyrne]

I think that I went with Moog links. They are structurally fine and I don't regret it at all. I was a little surprised at how quickly the shaft between the two joints rusted. It was orange within just a couple of weeks.

 

[Rocket61]

check your body mount bushings/bolts