Knocking/banging from the rear

rich1068

Member
 Sheffield
Further to this I'm still scratching my head about this knocking/banging I'm getting from the rear of the car. I know I said I'd keep everything in one thread but I need to throw this out to the widest possible audience before the car goes in next week for a thorough inspection. Not to a specialist but extremely thorough and competent mechanics (not technicians) that I've used for years. A heads up would be handy.

This is certainly suspension related. No knocks or bangs while accelerating or changing gear so I suppose we can exclude the diff. It's most noticeable at lower speeds on badly made roads, pot holes, speed bumps and sounds metal on metal to me. Extremely unpleasant. I had a run around The Peak District this afternoon and couldn't wait to get back onto the better maintained A roads.

I mentioned in my other thread that the noise could be the shock absorber sleeves/gaiters but now I don't think it is. Yes, they're loose but the sound isn't a plastic knock. That brings me to either top mounts or springs. Top mounts I can't really check without removing all the boot liners and I haven't had chance to do that yet. Now, springs. I'm told E85s eat springs. Reminds me of my Saab 9-3 days. Three times in the car's history it's needed new rear springs, 2009/2012/2023. Much Googling also tells me that the rear is sitting too high. 630mm n/s and 620mm o/s.

So, thoughts? Wrong springs? Badly fitted or broken springs (but ride height wouldn't be as high)? Springs incorrectly mounted at "full droop"? Or in fact, top mounts?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

:edit: I should add, it seems to be getting worse. New to me but the car's only driven a couple of hundred miles in the last 6 months.
 
I read a thread on here a while back where someone had fitted Meyle HD top mounts and they had metal to metal contact with the shock mounting washers. Could that be your issue?
I think they changed them for Bilstein or Lemforder in the end?
 
That will be investigated 👍 I'm going to have another deep dive through the original owner's paperwork and look for clues. It's as thick as an old phonebook.
 
No clues in the original owner's paperwork. Just an invoice for new rear springs fitted in February 2023. 140 quid. No VAT.
 
Cars going in Wednesday for a thorough examination but the Bank Holiday is playing havoc with my just in case parts sourcing. I've ordered a pair of Sachs rear springs from ECP, not sure if that was the right thing to do but at least I can physically return them if they're wrong or not needed. I'm trying to get hold of the correct top mounts but time is against me so that probably only leaves me with Sytner assuming I can order Tuesday morning for Wednesday morning. Downside is obviously that they'll be £££ and I don't think they do returns.

Any thoughts on the above guys?
 
I had slight knocking noise from the rear while turning at low speeds. Turned out to be ARB/sway bar bushings.
 
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