Rear clunking/thumping over bumpy road 2005 Lexus ES330
10-09-18, 06:01 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Rear clunking/thumping over bumpy road 2005 Lexus ES330
Hey guys,
So i am having a strange issue, when i drive over one bump the car is fine but if i start hitting a series of bumps that makes my rear go up and down quite a bit it makes clunking/thumping noise. Rear struts and mounts have been replaced with aftermarket and as precaution someone posted on Toyota forum to put felt on mounts to stop the noise some aftermarket mount produce. Both rear knuckles replaced with OEM Toyota, Links and sway bar bushing replaced and bushing replaced again when installed TRD sway bar. Also replaced all control arms in the rear. The only thing that's left is the sub-frame bushings. If that does not fix the issue i might just buy OEM strut mounts and try again. The car has 183k miles and i cant figure out that issue. Anyone know if subframe will cause that noise and experienced anything like this?
So i am having a strange issue, when i drive over one bump the car is fine but if i start hitting a series of bumps that makes my rear go up and down quite a bit it makes clunking/thumping noise. Rear struts and mounts have been replaced with aftermarket and as precaution someone posted on Toyota forum to put felt on mounts to stop the noise some aftermarket mount produce. Both rear knuckles replaced with OEM Toyota, Links and sway bar bushing replaced and bushing replaced again when installed TRD sway bar. Also replaced all control arms in the rear. The only thing that's left is the sub-frame bushings. If that does not fix the issue i might just buy OEM strut mounts and try again. The car has 183k miles and i cant figure out that issue. Anyone know if subframe will cause that noise and experienced anything like this?
10-09-18, 09:49 PM
#2
The general cause for this is the upper strut mount. It is a bearing set mounted horizontally in the top of the strut. Aftermarket strut kits are notorious for being of poor quality and failing. This would be suspect #1.
You can try seeing if they were simply not installed properly by checking the torque on the strut nuts and the center cartridge nut. This is accessed by taking out the rear seats and then the rear package tray. If that fails, you can try replacing with OE mounts. If that doesn't work out, KYB struts are the go-to for this (they are the OEM).
You can try seeing if they were simply not installed properly by checking the torque on the strut nuts and the center cartridge nut. This is accessed by taking out the rear seats and then the rear package tray. If that fails, you can try replacing with OE mounts. If that doesn't work out, KYB struts are the go-to for this (they are the OEM).
Last edited by Oro; 10-09-18 at 10:29 PM.
10-10-18, 03:30 PM
#3
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Never knew rear struts have bearings in them.
The general cause for this is the upper strut mount. It is a bearing set mounted horizontally in the top of the strut. Aftermarket strut kits are notorious for being of poor quality and failing. This would be suspect #1.
You can try seeing if they were simply not installed properly by checking the torque on the strut nuts and the center cartridge nut. This is accessed by taking out the rear seats and then the rear package tray. If that fails, you can try replacing with OE mounts. If that doesn't work out, KYB struts are the go-to for this (they are the OEM).
You can try seeing if they were simply not installed properly by checking the torque on the strut nuts and the center cartridge nut. This is accessed by taking out the rear seats and then the rear package tray. If that fails, you can try replacing with OE mounts. If that doesn't work out, KYB struts are the go-to for this (they are the OEM).
10-10-18, 11:25 PM
#5
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Well i decided to go for a ride in a trunk lol. My buddy drove the car and i tried to listen from where the noise is coming from. When i put my ear to the bottom of the trunk i could hear it on bumps but when i put my ear to where wheel well was, i could hear it more. It was also more noticible in the back of there car where strut towers are. So i guess the mounts went back again. So, my question now is, should i buy OEM , KYB (seem to supply OEM), or Sachs. Also should i replace the shocks again too?
The general cause for this is the upper strut mount. It is a bearing set mounted horizontally in the top of the strut. Aftermarket strut kits are notorious for being of poor quality and failing. This would be suspect #1.
You can try seeing if they were simply not installed properly by checking the torque on the strut nuts and the center cartridge nut. This is accessed by taking out the rear seats and then the rear package tray. If that fails, you can try replacing with OE mounts. If that doesn't work out, KYB struts are the go-to for this (they are the OEM).
You can try seeing if they were simply not installed properly by checking the torque on the strut nuts and the center cartridge nut. This is accessed by taking out the rear seats and then the rear package tray. If that fails, you can try replacing with OE mounts. If that doesn't work out, KYB struts are the go-to for this (they are the OEM).
10-11-18, 06:19 AM
#6
JUST FOR KICKS, disconnect the rear sway bar links and fix them to something that doesn't move with shop wire (they'll still be connected at the bar, just not at the strut). I know you said you did the bushings but the clunking in the rear of these cars is almost always the bushings. Mind didn't have play that was easily detectable by hand... only that they could slide in and out of the bushing.
10-11-18, 02:10 PM
#7
Before buying new bushings, check the torque on the upper nut(s). It can be tricky to get right.
if that doesn’t fix it, then OE or KYB would be the only ones I would mess with. They are going to be repackaged bearings from a different maker, but at least guaranted to be a quality supplier.
if that doesn’t fix it, then OE or KYB would be the only ones I would mess with. They are going to be repackaged bearings from a different maker, but at least guaranted to be a quality supplier.
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10-15-18, 11:04 AM
#8
Oro and all else,
are we sure the rear has a bearing? haven't done one in AGES, but I did have a 2014 Avalon apart recently and I swear the rear was just a bumper, no bearing like in the front... after all, it doesn't turn.
Anyway, I would TOTALLY do what I said and do a test run with the rear links detached from the sway bar and safely secured... almost every time there are clunks in these, its that or the control arm bushes.
I DID get awful noise in the fornt of our old odyssey after Monroe struts, stock mounts/bearings. Monroe insisted it was the mount/bearing even though there wasnt a noise before they were married to the Monroe struts. I spent 2 dats and more money than I care to say chasing that noise, to find out it was their strut and a known issue at their facility. THey said "sorry, we'll send you more struts." I said NOPE and the vehicle was savagely totaled a few months later. When I go to do our replacement odyssey, bet you tush I am going to use KYB or OEM
are we sure the rear has a bearing? haven't done one in AGES, but I did have a 2014 Avalon apart recently and I swear the rear was just a bumper, no bearing like in the front... after all, it doesn't turn.
Anyway, I would TOTALLY do what I said and do a test run with the rear links detached from the sway bar and safely secured... almost every time there are clunks in these, its that or the control arm bushes.
I DID get awful noise in the fornt of our old odyssey after Monroe struts, stock mounts/bearings. Monroe insisted it was the mount/bearing even though there wasnt a noise before they were married to the Monroe struts. I spent 2 dats and more money than I care to say chasing that noise, to find out it was their strut and a known issue at their facility. THey said "sorry, we'll send you more struts." I said NOPE and the vehicle was savagely totaled a few months later. When I go to do our replacement odyssey, bet you tush I am going to use KYB or OEM
10-15-18, 12:21 PM
#9
Intermediate
Thread Starter
It's most likely the strut mounts and struts. My friend works at autoshop and used their local parts dealer. With my experience with them, they suck. I had to replace their links under warranty twice and just ended up getting proforged links. And I know how stabilizer bar bushings sound as I replaced them noise stopped. I honestly didn't pay too much attention until after I for struts replaced so though bushing might have gone bad again. Then not to long ago I got TRD sway bar. It's OEM from Toyota racing development. It comes with polyurethane bushing. Even after I replaced that it did not help. I also noticed that clunking goes away the hotter it is. When it's very cold out it's worse. From my experience it's rubber hardening. But I'll try disconnecting links this weekend. My other thought is subframe bushings but I looked online and no one has a vid on noise they make.
Oro and all else,
are we sure the rear has a bearing? haven't done one in AGES, but I did have a 2014 Avalon apart recently and I swear the rear was just a bumper, no bearing like in the front... after all, it doesn't turn.
Anyway, I would TOTALLY do what I said and do a test run with the rear links detached from the sway bar and safely secured... almost every time there are clunks in these, its that or the control arm bushes.
I DID get awful noise in the fornt of our old odyssey after Monroe struts, stock mounts/bearings. Monroe insisted it was the mount/bearing even though there wasnt a noise before they were married to the Monroe struts. I spent 2 dats and more money than I care to say chasing that noise, to find out it was their strut and a known issue at their facility. THey said "sorry, we'll send you more struts." I said NOPE and the vehicle was savagely totaled a few months later. When I go to do our replacement odyssey, bet you tush I am going to use KYB or OEM
are we sure the rear has a bearing? haven't done one in AGES, but I did have a 2014 Avalon apart recently and I swear the rear was just a bumper, no bearing like in the front... after all, it doesn't turn.
Anyway, I would TOTALLY do what I said and do a test run with the rear links detached from the sway bar and safely secured... almost every time there are clunks in these, its that or the control arm bushes.
I DID get awful noise in the fornt of our old odyssey after Monroe struts, stock mounts/bearings. Monroe insisted it was the mount/bearing even though there wasnt a noise before they were married to the Monroe struts. I spent 2 dats and more money than I care to say chasing that noise, to find out it was their strut and a known issue at their facility. THey said "sorry, we'll send you more struts." I said NOPE and the vehicle was savagely totaled a few months later. When I go to do our replacement odyssey, bet you tush I am going to use KYB or OEM
10-19-18, 06:48 PM
#10
Intermediate
Oro and all else,
are we sure the rear has a bearing? haven't done one in AGES, but I did have a 2014 Avalon apart recently and I swear the rear was just a bumper, no bearing like in the front... after all, it doesn't turn.
Anyway, I would TOTALLY do what I said and do a test run with the rear links detached from the sway bar and safely secured... almost every time there are clunks in these, its that or the control arm bushes.
I DID get awful noise in the fornt of our old odyssey after Monroe struts, stock mounts/bearings. Monroe insisted it was the mount/bearing even though there wasnt a noise before they were married to the Monroe struts. I spent 2 dats and more money than I care to say chasing that noise, to find out it was their strut and a known issue at their facility. THey said "sorry, we'll send you more struts." I said NOPE and the vehicle was savagely totaled a few months later. When I go to do our replacement odyssey, bet you tush I am going to use KYB or OEM
are we sure the rear has a bearing? haven't done one in AGES, but I did have a 2014 Avalon apart recently and I swear the rear was just a bumper, no bearing like in the front... after all, it doesn't turn.
Anyway, I would TOTALLY do what I said and do a test run with the rear links detached from the sway bar and safely secured... almost every time there are clunks in these, its that or the control arm bushes.
I DID get awful noise in the fornt of our old odyssey after Monroe struts, stock mounts/bearings. Monroe insisted it was the mount/bearing even though there wasnt a noise before they were married to the Monroe struts. I spent 2 dats and more money than I care to say chasing that noise, to find out it was their strut and a known issue at their facility. THey said "sorry, we'll send you more struts." I said NOPE and the vehicle was savagely totaled a few months later. When I go to do our replacement odyssey, bet you tush I am going to use KYB or OEM
If you go to the same site and look up the FRONT strut/shock assembly, it shows a bearing. http://www.japan-parts.eu/lexus/us/2...shock-absorber
10-20-18, 03:05 PM
#11
Intermediate
Thread Starter
I went to this site and it shows no bearing on the REAR strut/shock assembly. http://www.japan-parts.eu/lexus/us/2003/es300-330/mcv31l-beagka/3_282470_002_/powertrain-chassis/4804_rear-spring-shock-absorber
If you go to the same site and look up the FRONT strut/shock assembly, it shows a bearing. http://www.japan-parts.eu/lexus/us/2...shock-absorber
10-22-18, 05:10 AM
#12
Perhaps I misread above, wasn’t there talk about this being the rear strut mount bearing? That’s why I pointed out that thats impossible. Like muffler bearings
did you try disconnecting the swaybar links yet?
did you try disconnecting the swaybar links yet?
10-22-18, 08:28 AM
#13
Intermediate
Thread Starter
I haven't tried disconnecting them yet, I'm actually just replacing the suspension again this coming Sunday. I don't like how these struts behave anyways. Putting OEM Mounts (Front Bearings), Front OEM Top boot, OEM Bumber stoppers, OEM springs, KYB Strut, KYB lower insulators, etc. $300 replacement.
10-29-18, 06:16 AM
#15
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Hey guys, just wanted to provide an update. Changed the rear struts this weekend and won't believe the difference it made. The car feels so much better, smoother ride, no more bouncy, no clunks. Feels like I just bought it. I've learned my lesson, dont go to local machenics who use their own parts shop, those parts suck. Provide them your own quality parts or you'll have to pay twice, like I did after 2 years.