I have a mystery sound I need you guys' help with...

[Dewyaw]

On my '88 Targa, there is a "scrunching" sound that comes from the rear when I roll over a dip or a bump in the road. It is like nails on a chalkboard, and I cringe every time I hear it!!

The weird part is that the sound only happens in cold weather. If the weather is warm, then no sound! I have stood on the bumper and rocked the car up and down, and I cannot duplicate the sound that way. Therefore I figured it's not the suspension. I changed all four shocks last year. This is the first winter where I notice the sound, I've had the car for two winters now.

My engine mounts were perished, so I replaced those with some WEVO Semi-solids, fully expecting the problem to be fixed. Nope. "Scrunching" sound is still there.

I have no clue what the problem is now, and hope someone out there has either experienced the same problem, or I can get good suggestions to trouble-shoot.

Thanks

[kodioneill]

Spring plate and/or sway bar bushings.

[Peter Zimmermann]

If you can hear the noise going in, or out, of angled driveways, you probably have a broken rear sway bar mount.

[Jdub]

Rear shock mounting at the top not fully secured? A loose A/C on the decklid?

Sorry not to be of more help but I know how I hate those Area 51 noises!

[Dewyaw]

I'll reach back there and check the rear shock top mounts. I was wondering about those.

Rear sway bar mounts are fine.

Last summer I did replace the spring plate bushings with some Elephant Racing bushings. That might be it...