I've been hearing this nasty clunking/rattling noise for a while now and I asked the shop who was changing my coolant to check it out. They said it looked like my struts were blown and I needed new sway bar links. I believed them on the strut since the previous owner had sportlines on stock struts (dumbass). So I changed the rear struts and sway bar links myself (have yet to do the front) and the noise is still there. The sway bar link was visibly loose and after changing that the rattling noise is gone but I still have the clunking sound (I hope this makes sense). Anything else I could check out? It doesn't make the sound if I push down on the back of the car when parked, only when I'm driving and going over bumps.

ball joint? have you done the recall?

hmmm not sure, when was the recall. When I purchased my car 2.5 years ago I took it to a dealership and they said all the recalls were done on it. was it more recent than that ? I'm not the original owner so I don't think I'd get recall notices.

Well I called the dealership and the ball joint recall was done on my car in 2002. Also the ball joints are in the front and the noise is coming from the rear of the car <<<boy did I feel stupid when I called and asked him if my rear ball joints were changed under recall lol

The service guy said to just bring in my car during lunch and give him a ride around so he can hear the noise and see if he can diagnose it for me.

This may sound kinda stupid but did you check your spare tire and jack???? Mine where lose and banged for months until I just removed them. Wouldn't hurt to check and it's real easy to do. Just my .02

John

Possibly your strut mount.Its worth a check.

Could be your rear knuckle bushing. Mine went out and made that same noise. Also like said above, rear strut could be bad.

I'll have the rear knuckle bushing checked. I don't think it's my strut or strut mount since I changed both of them when I changed my struts (Tokico Blues), I got one of those strut mount kits. I don't think it's the strut since it's still only happenning on the right side. It would be a big coincidence if my Tokico strut is bad on the same side it's been making the noise. If I go over a bump with just the left side of the car there's no noise. I'm taking my car to the dealership during lunch and the head tech said I could drive him around and he'll check it out to see what it is.

make sure the exhaust mounts arent broken andthe exhaust is hitting the spare tire well.

Terry

96 Eagle talon ESI
Greddy header - Greddy exhaust

97 Eclipse
Star Stage II - Boost/oil/EGT gauges - Apexi N1 3" exhaust - SFMU/return line - Apexi SAFC - Stage 2 6 puck Sprung hub MIBA clutch - Shortened shifter - Koni Yellows w/eibach prokit - Stillen Fr/Rr swaybars - ceramic intake - DEI Keyless entry alarm - Niche 17" Shoks

Waiting to be installed: HKS EVC IV, 450 Turbo injectors, GSX Front brakes (need rotors)

Mitchell on Demand copies available

I had that same problem with mine..everytime I went over a bump it banged loud as hell. It turned out to be teh rubber bushing at the top of the wheel well. It was totally rotted out so i replaced it with some large sing washer from home depot.

Have the same problem.

I took it to a local garage and they quoted me near 100 on changing out the knuckle and tie rod bushings, along with the shocks. The noise reportedly was from the knuckle bushing. its my back right wheel as well. Amazing how these things wear in the exact same way....

scare

You have tie rods on your rear wheels?

this might sound stupid, but did you try having a passenger push up on rear hatch glass? I have a similar problem and I just realized what it was this weekend on my way home from OH(9hours behind the wheel, you get bored), found out that it is my hatch hinges that are making a rattling/clunking sound. so now my hatch hinges sound just like my hood hinges.... YEAH! GL

$20 on rear knuckle bushing



95ESI-cai,borla,sportlines,kyb,tsw
more on the way

Ihad this problem with a different car, it was 2 things, 1 can't be for eclipses...It was a rear diff mount(240z) and the other was just bad shocks,going down the road, hit a bump it would slam down hard with a thump. I replaced the springs and the strut/ bumpstop and no longer had that problem

Originally posted by Chip176583
I had that same problem with mine..everytime I went over a bump it banged loud as hell. It turned out to be the rubber bushing at the top of the wheel well. It was totally rotted out so i replaced it with some large sing washer from home depot.

he is absolutely right...it happens to alot of 2g eclipse that are lowered...the only replacement bushings that i have found are energy suspension...they sell the kit for the rear only which is like $50 (summitracing.com)...you do not have the buy the complete kit for your whole car...the dealer doesnt even sell just the bushing...they sell it with the whole arm only...

Is this problem fixed? If so, what was it?

Do you have a rear strut tower bar? My hatch cover rubs on my rear STB, and if I go over a bump it pops sometimes when they hit.

Well the shop told me I needed to replace the top metal piece of the strut mount. I really don't think that's what's making the noise but for $11 I'll try and change it. They said that's all they think it is. I really doubt it though. I'm going to replace it this weekend and see what happens.

Originally posted by Jerm23
Well the shop told me I needed to replace the top metal piece of the strut mount. I really don't think that's what's making the noise but for $11 I'll try and change it. They said that's all they think it is. I really doubt it though. I'm going to replace it this weekend and see what happens.

I know this is an old post, but did this^^^ fix the problem?? I'm starting to get the same clunking now, but in addition to that, I'm getting it in the front passenger side too

Sweet, my turn for this now. Haven't had a chance to yank the wheel off yet to look though. Guess I'll try the ES bushings. Yes, I know it's old.

I will tell you right now it is the upper rear knuckle bushings. The one(s) between the upper control arm and the knuckle. When mine first started I was like " Oh shit, WTF?" then I checked it out and said screw it. Then the other side went, I then bought ES bushings, Installed them, and guess what? No more freaking clunk over bumps, RR tracks, under hard braking with warped rear rotors, etc., etc.

BTW, Holy Old Post Batman!