besides the obvious rough ride, how do i tell? everytime i hit a bump i hear something that sounds like its clanking against metal. like something is loose. i just noticed the noise today. yes, the ride isnt the smoothest, but it never really has been since ive had the car (about 1 1/2 years).

sound like i need some shocks? where's the best/cheapest place to get em?

 

Before my rear shocks went I noticed a rattly bumping sound going over even soft bumps. Sounded like something was stuck in the spare tire compartment and was rattling around. Was sure it was my shocks when I noticed a pool of oil next to one a couple months later. You can visually check the shocks for oily films which could indicate a leaky or blown shock.

 

Yea I have a weird clanking sound under my car. It sounds like a bolt is loose or something but no repair shop knows what it is.

 

YES! exactly what it sounds like. i wish i had access to a lift so i could check it out...i guess im gunna have to go jack + jack stands and hope for the best.....

mazzivart...PLEASE let me know if u find out what it is! thanks man...ill do the same

 

Get under the car, check the four big bolts that hold the crossmember to the frame. They should all be tight and bottomed out against the frame (if it's a little loose, the bushing will be squished tight but the metal part won't be tight against the frame).

Also check the swaybar - sometimes the bushings that clamp it to the frame rub thru, this causes a popping/creaking sound. The springs can also make a popping/creaking sound when the rubber wrap at the ends rubs thru, and the metal coils touch each other.

Finally, under the car shake your exhaust around. Once it starts rusting, it becomes very clunk/pop/squeak prone.

Bad shocks make no noise like you're describing. They just bounce and bounce when you push the suspension down, or they leak fluid.

Dave

 

CV joints make noise, struts bad will make it feel like your car is riding on bouncy *****

 

What about the strut bearings? Sort of the sound of a loose bolt or a marble being jiggled. I've had that for a while and assumed that I needed to replace the bearings when I do my struts/shocks.

 

shouldnt be CV Joints, i replaced em about 11 months ago.

i dont think its the exhaust either cause it sounds like its coming from near the wheels. but ill check it out.

thanks for the help!

EDIT: crap. my brothers jack doesnt lift my car high enough to get the jackstands under it...

 

Bah. Nobody offered the obvious first thing to check:
Broken stud on a strut. The one at the top. The nut is visible when you lift the hood.

 

push your car down in the back and see if it bounces.It should just go down then up

 

if the eses walk up to you and ask where you got the hydraulics for your car your shocks are bad

 

Did you ever figure out what the problem is?? I started experiencing these same sounds immediately after I finished a full rear brake pad/rotor/caliper job. I had my car up on stands for three days by the time I got the parts and finished the job. Could the struts being extended for that long of a time cause them to fail?

 

yea i figured it out, it was a loose caliper bolt...it actually fell out while driving...it was only down the street from my house though luckily. i was hearing the caliper slamming against the rotor.