rear suspension clunk

[Alan L]

My car has developed an annoying clunk in the rear corner.
When this happened once before, I found a loose bolt on the base of the rear shock.
I have just replaced this bolt with a fractionally shorter one in case the old one was bottoming out. No improvement.
I have searched previous threads and checked the rear arm mounts, sway bar mounts, gear box mounts. All seem tight.
I read that Konis are bad for knocking, I have Bilsteins. Do they do the same, or should I just start over again.
It seems to be more the type of surface than the force that does it. Even first gear over an uneven surface that twists the suspension will do it as easily as a high speed bump.
Alan

[tonythetarga]

What year car?
You might try removing the rear sway bar completely and you might discover the mount is cracked or broken. You said you did check that but unless you had both back wheels off the ground at the same time, you may have missed it. Also check the drop link bushings for the sway bar. somethimes they can break or the rubber bushing can be worn out and allow the bar to clunk. No problem to drive the car without the rear bar, as long as you aren't planning to track it in that condition. I'd start there; it is an easy remove-replace part to diagnose the problem.

[Fronnzy]

I had "a" clunk, only to discover it was actually 2 clunks, happening at different loads/stresses.

One was one of the sway bar mounts. It was egg shaped around the rubber bushing. the bushing didn't move as it was pinched. (seems PO hit something?)

The other was/is the inside rear CV joint. Boot is ripped and empty. Knocks pretty good, especially under lateral load. (turning).

good luck.

[Alan L]

It is an 83 SC.
The link arms seem OK - I replaced a suspect one a while ago.
Have not had both wheels up together - just one side at time.
Will look again when get a chance.
Thanks
Alan

[Fishcop]

Wheel bearings are worth a check too. I changed every bit of my suspension rubber and bushes. Ended up being a bearing.

[Alan L]

Thanks guys. Sorry about late reply - just got back from o/seas. Will detach sway bar and see if persists. If it does, will look at bearings.
Alan