I have a couple rear end questions that go along with a thump or clunk. Yesterday and today I noticed a loud bang or clunk from the rear as the body rolled over the bumps of my lawn. It sounds a lot like the famous front end clunk we all know too well only louder. When I got out of my truck and pushed down on the quarter panels on both sides manually it made the sound very loudly. However, it seems that after I did this a couple times as hard as I could that the sound has gone away.

My question is, could this be rear sway bar links? They are plastic aren't they? Or, could this be the shocks rusting to the mounts a little and as I bounced them it kicked off some rust and stopped the noise? What should I use if anything to lubricate my shock mount pivots? Anyone have a similar sound and found something else? Only happens at slow speed off road.

Thanks

 

My guess would be sway bar links. If the links have any movement by hand (vertical or horizontal) then they are bad. Just grab it and and wiggle, if it moves then they are shot. My drives side one is bad but only makes noise under 15 mph. Hope this helps.

 

The rear links are one of the easiest things to change on our truck, but backwoods is correct, any play they are bad. Also check your spare tire, they can come loose. I think the recommended torque on the spare tire is like 25 flbs.. its in the service manual.

 

Thanks guys! Can these links be tested with the truck on the ground or should I put the rear on jack stands first to relieve pressure? Thanks Again. If they are bad would you recommend replacing with a plastic one or a metal one or does it matter? The metal one on rock auto seems very thin imo. Metal $10, plastic $16.

 

You can check them while the truck is on the ground. I am not sure about which one should buy....

 

thanks buddy!

 

I bought the metal ones when I replaced mine, I kinda wish I went with the OEM plastic. The OEM ones have a nice fitting hardened plastic inner ring. The metal ones have a cheap loose fitting zinc POS inner ring. When I get around to it, I will be looking for the OEM plastic ones.

 

Cool, when I looked at the pic of the metal ones it reminded me of the cheesy looking ones on my wife's patriot. They are about the size of a pencil, no joke! lol I appreciate the feedback bud.

 

Not much to go wrong back there...check the sway bar links as mentioned, check the shock bushings @ the axle and @ the frame. Also, check for any broken body bolts. The bolts that hold the bed onto the frame.

Other then that....I cannot think of anything else that would clunk....anyone?

 

No problem