How do I figure out which bushing is bad?
 

I've posted this elsewhere, too, but I'm hoping for some advice:

I hear an increasingly loud metal bang from the right rear when I drive on roads with sharp bumps. It's only on the right side, and only over sharp bumps, like expansion joints or medium-sized cracks in the pavement and pot holes. The right rear also feels as though it "hangs up" on these bumps, causing a slight shudder.

Obviously, I'm only able to hear it while driving the car, but I'm guessing it's a suspension bushing. Can anyone explain how I would go about determining which one?

Blown shock, or a sway bar bushing. Shock seems more likely, but the sway bar bushes are very easy to inspect.

Okay, I'll have a look at both.

On Rennlist, it was suggested that I check the tension on the bolts holding the shock in, and I will do that, too.

More generally, though, is there a way to tell how bad a particular, largely hidden bushing is? Can you put a jack under it and measure, for example, or is there some other mechanic's trick?

Thanks for the help,

Charlie.

Try to get a pry bar & check for excessive motion at all joints. Check muffler mounts, too even tough they're on driver's side.

Okay. Can do. I suppose I could just compare how much motion I get from the pry bar on one side to the other.

I'll check the muffler, too.

Thanks for the help!