Sebagoman

I have developed a rattle in the right rear which appears to be coming from the rear strut. It is more pronounced at lower speeds, especially over potholes, and disappears completely at highway speed.
I'm thinking it may be a loose strut nut or housing assembly and want to inspect the strut. Is there a simple way to remove the back seat to allow access to the rear struts?

Any helpful advice is appreciated.....thx.

igzy

Without seeing the car, my thoughts are either the shock leaked out, strut mount or rear sway bar links...

NotADood

The bottom part of the seat comes up quite easily. It is simply held by 2 very strong plastic clips. Simply slide your fingers between where the carpet ends and the seat begins and try to feel where they are. A hard sharp pull upward should undo it. After that, to remove the rear seat, take out the head rests, the 14mm bolts holding in the seat belts, and a few 12mm bolts hold on the rear seat back.

oldgrump

Usually the front stab. bar end links go first, but before getting involved removing the rear seat etc, I'd sure go with the simple/easy item/s. I'd first check the stab. bar end links (as suggested by Igsy above) for wear. It's not uncommon for these things to make a tapping/clunking noise at low speeds and often with very little suspension travel. Each end link has two ball socket joints that often wear (and it doesn't take that much wear of one or both of the joints to generate noise). Once that you verify that it's not an attach nut (either the one at the bar or the one at the strut)that's loose, use a long pry bar to alternately apply and release a load to the bottom end of the end link (or an adjacent spot on the stab. bar). It's better if you do it with the full weight of the car on the wheels, but you can certainly check it with the rear wheel partially and/or fully jacked up as well. If you get a clunk then you've found the culprit......but change both end links. Also, why you're under there accomplish a good visual inspection of everything.

Sebagoman

Thanks for the advice, I'll give it a look later today.

carcass29

its the rear sway bar links..either right or left side depending on where you hear the noise(it sounds like a clunk noise) just had my rear right side done by local mechanic...60 bucks.