it could be the sway bar links, or the sway bar rubber bushings. or...something else. the links are not expensive. if you pull them off a dead one will usually be easyer to feal. you can also use a rubber mallet to wack the sway bar neer the bishings to see if thats making the noise. also check to be sure a shock isant loose, and from what Ive read the hub assy bolts can come loose.( I think there are 3 of them and probably 15 mm. I checked all mine last year they were all goodentight.
Rear end "popping" noise during bumpy turns
Last weekend I started getting a popping noise from the drivers' side rear end when turning while going over bumps. I'd never heard it before then, so I immediately picked up on it. I continued driving figuring it wasn't a huge deal. Over the week, the noise got progressively more pronounced, more frequent, and easier to invoke.
It sounds like it's coming from the wheel or some part of the suspension. I'm also led to think it's that because the noise is amplified the most when combining bumps and turning at the same time. The sound is similar to when the security seal on a jar is open and you press the lid in. A "popping" noise if you will. I include a sample of it in the below video.
All this said, I feel I know less about suspension than anything else about cars so I now beg for help from y'all
I tried jacking up the car and jiggling the LR wheel that sounded close to the noise and it didn't have any more play than the others. I pulled the wheel off to jiggle the different suspension parts around and see if I could find anything visibly broken but otherwise didn't know what's normal and what's not.
In the video I wiggle the tie rod followed by the sway bar links. The links seem to have more play than I would expect (and probably need to be replaced regardless) but I'm not sure if this would cause the sound I'm describing. Does anyone have any guesses on what the issue could be?
I'm worried that if I take it to a mechanic I'll get a "your whole suspension is trashed and needs to be replaced" diagnosis (which is probably true) and quote to match but I'm curious if it's something that's an easy home fix.
Thanks so much for any advice! 🙏
EDIT: I should mention there is no difference in feeling/sounds from the steering wheel. All feels 100% normal. I saw some people mentioning this usually comes with tie rod issues, though I'd imagine that applies more to front tie rods than rear.
It sounds like it's coming from the wheel or some part of the suspension. I'm also led to think it's that because the noise is amplified the most when combining bumps and turning at the same time. The sound is similar to when the security seal on a jar is open and you press the lid in. A "popping" noise if you will. I include a sample of it in the below video.
All this said, I feel I know less about suspension than anything else about cars so I now beg for help from y'all
I tried jacking up the car and jiggling the LR wheel that sounded close to the noise and it didn't have any more play than the others. I pulled the wheel off to jiggle the different suspension parts around and see if I could find anything visibly broken but otherwise didn't know what's normal and what's not.
In the video I wiggle the tie rod followed by the sway bar links. The links seem to have more play than I would expect (and probably need to be replaced regardless) but I'm not sure if this would cause the sound I'm describing. Does anyone have any guesses on what the issue could be?
I'm worried that if I take it to a mechanic I'll get a "your whole suspension is trashed and needs to be replaced" diagnosis (which is probably true) and quote to match but I'm curious if it's something that's an easy home fix.
Thanks so much for any advice! 🙏
EDIT: I should mention there is no difference in feeling/sounds from the steering wheel. All feels 100% normal. I saw some people mentioning this usually comes with tie rod issues, though I'd imagine that applies more to front tie rods than rear.
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Thanks y'all - I'll give it a look today. Before posting I did try the shock and everything seemed secure but didn't try hitting the sway bar with a rubber mallet to see how it reacts. Also didn't try the hub assembly bolts. Man I really hope it's not an axle since that sounds like much more of a headache to replace on my own which is the goal
Fair, I know what you mean about sounds sounding like they're coming from elsewhere. So I actually took a closer look today and just barely touching the boot around the shock made it fall down. When I pushed it back up it made a slight "popping" sound before falling back down again. I'm thinking it's possible that could be the issue. It seems like there's not much space between the springs and the outside of the boot around the strut, so perhaps as I go over a bump while the car is turning (and the suspension is pushed inwards/outwards as a result) the boot catches on the spring and when the pressure is relieved, the boot snaps back to the top and makes a popping noise. The other thing I noticed while I was in there is the "bumper" under the boot is basically disintegrating and leaving particles everywhere. Not sure if the bumpers are supposed to help keep the boot up at the top of the strut, but now it seems I can't get it back in place and it just sits at the bottom.
The bumper beneath the boot basically looks like it's been eaten by a rodent
Should clarify, the boot was held up at the top where it should be when I pulled off the wheel, but like I say after barely touching it it fell down. I can get it to lightly hold at the top now but it then falls very easily again. I think it's totally possible it's been going on and off of it's mount as the suspension goes up and down.
I'm guessing (and hoping) I found the issue. All the other boots and bushings I can see in the area are in just fine shape.
Has anyone experienced this before? Seems like I need to pull the whole strut off to replace this, so while I'm in there I'm thinking I should replace everything since this is the original suspension from my 17 year old car. Anyone have a suspension setup they like? I'm definitely into stiff - I like feeling every bump in the road. Did a little searching and it seems like so many companies stoped making them for the Sol since it's been discontinued for so long 😥if I want aftermarket I might be stuck with the pricey BCs...
So many scenarios.. hopefully you are getting close. Also if you have the car jacked up you could get a hold of the wheel and turn it back and fourth to see if you hear anything odd at the cv joint, in gear or out would probably have enough pressure to have affect it. You might be able to hear some type of clanking or popping but should be completely smooth.Fair, I know what you mean about sounds sounding like they're coming from elsewhere. So I actually took a closer look today and just barely touching the boot around the shock made it fall down. When I pushed it back up it made a slight "popping" sound before falling back down again. I'm thinking it's possible that could be the issue. It seems like there's not much space between the springs and the outside of the boot around the strut, so perhaps as I go over a bump while the car is turning (and the suspension is pushed inwards/outwards as a result) the boot catches on the spring and when the pressure is relieved, the boot snaps back to the top and makes a popping noise. The other thing I noticed while I was in there is the "bumper" under the boot is basically disintegrating and leaving particles everywhere. Not sure if the bumpers are supposed to help keep the boot up at the top of the strut, but now it seems I can't get it back in place and it just sits at the bottom.
The bumper beneath the boot basically looks like it's been eaten by a rodent
View attachment 129898
Should clarify, the boot was held up at the top where it should be when I pulled off the wheel, but like I say after barely touching it it fell down. I can get it to lightly hold at the top now but it then falls very easily again. I think it's totally possible it's been going on and off of it's mount as the suspension goes up and down.
View attachment 129899
I'm guessing (and hoping) I found the issue. All the other boots and bushings I can see in the area are in just fine shape.
Has anyone experienced this before? Seems like I need to pull the whole strut off to replace this, so while I'm in there I'm thinking I should replace everything since this is the original suspension from my 17 year old car. Anyone have a suspension setup they like? I'm definitely into stiff - I like feeling every bump in the road. Did a little searching and it seems like so many companies stoped making them for the Sol since it's been discontinued for so long 😥if I want aftermarket I might be stuck with the pricey BCs...
I tried that when I took the wheel off and neither the wheel nor the brake rotor has any noise and barley any play in it unfortunately
Hopefully that's a good thing but still doesn't rule out that it could possibly be a cv joint.I tried that when I took the wheel off and neither the wheel nor the brake rotor has any noise and barley any play in it unfortunately
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