Rear springs... loose? Options

[MeyerTX]

1996 celica GT, 160k, auto... before this last weekend we've had a "clunk" in the rear suspension, and it was happening on any surface... smooth, bumpy, accelerating, turning, etc. So, I opted to change out the springs (struts had already been replaced with basic KYB GR2's about 10 months ago).

Bought and installed Megan orange lowering springs... same issue.

Here's the HUGE clue - the old springs did not need to be compressed to get out of strut - and neither did the Megan springs need to be compressed to be installed in the KYB's. They are probably about 1/4" from fitting with the strut structure tightly. I'm wondering if:

1. KYB is selling a new strut that is too tall? (double checked part numbers on site and on actual strut)
2. We have something missing, like a thick spacer? (bought new rubber mount for lower part where spring meets strut base, then you have the spring, and a one-piece strut mount holds in all in place.


Ideas?

[VavAlephVav]

did you replace the strut mounting plate(top) along with the strut?
does your suspension sit level, same height on Rwheel as Lwheel?

mine is sitting almost 2" lower on one side than the other, and that same side makes a bit more of a clunking.
I am guessing it is not only the strut itself but the rubber in the mounting plate wears out too, or it might be tweaked a bit.
I was planning to get some new kyb struts, but you want to get the new mounting plates too.

also maybe things like the swaybar end-links, or bushings in the trailing arms maybe

This post has been edited by VavAlephVav: Jan 21, 2014 - 8:51 PM

[MeyerTX]

the end links are on the list for this weekend, and we bought the trailing arms bushings already too... its just the fact that the spring is not compressed (before installing) that worried me. Car is sitting level and we did put new strut mounts on when we did the new struts back in June.

Do you know if there is a rubber bushing at the top of the spring, before the mount?

[Galcobar]

Common source of rear suspension clunks is the suspension arms (the four arms which run laterally in pairs from the centre of the chassis to the rear knuckles).

Thread here on the issue: http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=35515&st=0

[jordisonjr]

If you think its endlinks, just disconnect them and try to replicate the sound/take it for a quick ride.
If the sound persists, its not your endlinks. This is how I diagnosed mine.

[Bitter]

rear sway bar bushings can clunk as well, grab the bar and try to move it around and hit it with your fist/palm. It should be solid and not move around.

[MeyerTX]

lesson learned... don't trust that new struts are going to stay new... turns out one of the new KYB struts has decompressed (leaked) and had zero rebound. The end links on the drivers side are also dead though.

One last follow up - we are thinking of turning this into a track-day car for SCCA - does anyone make poly bushings for all the links on this generation? A few searches have yielded zero. I might just buy an entire rear crossmember from a local boneyard and rebuild it on the workbench, and just search for bushings in the correct sizes.

[richee3]

http://www.gt4-racing.eu

Also available on eBay.

[VavAlephVav]

I also remember reading a thread on the strut replacement that says the rear springs will be under no tension, so that's is normal I think
Its in the suspension sticky threads

[Galcobar]

One last follow up - we are thinking of turning this into a track-day car for SCCA - does anyone make poly bushings for all the links on this generation? A few searches have yielded zero. I might just buy an entire rear crossmember from a local boneyard and rebuild it on the workbench, and just search for bushings in the correct sizes.

http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=71666&hl=