I have a 1997 SC400 with the dreaded hollow clunk noise from the passenger rear when going over a bump and the back end wants to get a bit squirrely. It has to be a bushing, but the problem is I really don't know which one. I've searched and searched and can't really narrow it down. Can someone point me in the right direction with the proper name and maybe an exploded view showing the correct one? Someone said it might be a carrier bushing...someone else said control arm. Since it seems to be a very common problem someone should be able to let me know which one it most likely is. Thanks guys!!

 

First check to see if one of your end links are hitting one of your rear shocks.

 

If you lowerer the car, it may be your sway bar End links. There are a # of things that can cause your rear end to feel a bit loose. you best bet is to take it to a shop to get the correxct diag.. or buy a set of rear control arm bushings for passracing or assaulttech and replace everything. It's like $104 shipped.

 

I know it's been a month...have you sorted out your clunking problem yet?

I had an annoying clunk as well for a long time. It started with the rear passenger side, then progressed to both sides. Going over slight bumps created a fairly objectionable thunk that really made the car seem low rent. Even pavement cracks or the thick painted lines at intersections would cause it. And the back end seemed to want to steer itself, going around corners with any sort of bump would cause the back end to skitter around all over the place.

I looked all around the suspension, had the car jacked up and checked the wheels, springs, bushings etc. I pulled, pushed, twisted and shook everything in sight, but could not find the source of the clunk.

So finally I gave up and ordered a set of bushings from assaulttech, hoping that would cure the problem. Wouldn't you know it, they were out of stock and it took weeks for the order to be filled (still haven't got them).

But meantime, I also replaced the struts all around (Tokico blue) and hey, the problem is gone. Those old shocks were leaking and loose inside. Now the car is handling great, solidly planted in the corners. No more clunking of any kind, just a solid yet smooth and quiet ride. I'm absolutely happy with the results. If only I had known, I would have replaced them long ago.

-=Photon=-

 

Yeah I was thinking that the shock may be weak causing the wheel to hop and leave the pavement....so I'm gonna embark on a year long replacement of shocks and all front and rear bushings....should be interesting and expensive as hell