My rear suspension has been making noise for a month and its getting worse as time goes on!

Pretty much it is a Hollow Clunk noise everytime I hit a bump going 10 mph +.

I have tested the rear suspension by pushing down on each side and it seems to rebound back to normal right away.

Does this sound like worn Struts/shocks or something else??

its a 1992 Lexus Sc400 with 160k miles.

I have looked under the car and everything seems tight...no loose sway bar or anything.

How hard is it to replace the rear struts?? I looked on here and some say it is super hard while others say its very simple!!
Do I have to remove the rear seat to get at the bolts on top of the strut??

Thanks

 

it may be the struts but it may also be the bushings in the rear control arms. the rear shocks are just a bit harder to do on your own then the fronts. if you have a long pry bar or a friend to stand on the spindle to force it down then it is simple. i would check all the control arms for worn bushings. i doubt its the shocks.

to do the rear shocks you dont need to take out the seat. when you pop the trunk you see the big cover. take that off. that will expose the gas tank. on each side you will find the nuts to the shocks. first you remove the 3 12mm from each side. then take off the metal caps. then remove the 3 14mm from each side to unbolt the shocks from the body.

to make it easier to remove the shock have a long pry bar and stick it in the upper control arm and force it down. then remove the top of the shock from mount and move out of the way and let it go up into the fender. then remove the shock from the lower control arm. since the bottom mount is a fork it is a PITA to remove that first.

btw unbolt everything before try to pry on the control arm and remove the shock. lol.

 

Thanks.

I do tow 2 light Stand-up style jetskis with my SC400 if that makes any difference between weather or not it is bushings or struts?

How hard is it too replace the bushings??

 

this is a picture

 

I did a test and I do not have any movement when I push and pull the tires......does that mean that it is most likely my shock that is bad?? I dont think they have ever been replaced and the car has 160k miles!

which brand shock do you recommend...Monroe Sensa-Trac Strut or GABRIEL ??

 

I have OEM stock shocks/springs, good condition when I pulled them out when I changed to coilovers. PM me if you want them for cheap.

 

It it could be your bushings like they said before. Visually check those, if they are cracked or nonexistent then they need to be replaced. It wouldn't hurt double checking the shocks either.

 

bushings all seem to look really good!

 

by the look of how much rust you got i say ur bushings are shot

 

the bushings all did look in really good condition.....maybe they were replaced at some point before I bought the car.

 

dirk ill help u im in milwaukee