Clunk-clunk sound from rear
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Kansas City, KS, USA
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Clunk-clunk sound from rear
I'm now hearing a very faint clunking noise coming from the rear of the car when I'm backing up or moving at very low speeds (<5 mph). It sounds like a marble in a soda can, but kinda muffled.
I think it's coming from the exhaust pipes or mufflers rattling against their supports, but I tried jiggling both pipes and can't reproduce the sound.
I hope it's not the wheel bearings...
Any ideas?
I think it's coming from the exhaust pipes or mufflers rattling against their supports, but I tried jiggling both pipes and can't reproduce the sound.
I hope it's not the wheel bearings...
Any ideas?
#2
Not a Blowhole
Jack up the car, brake off, spin the wheel. Hear the sound?
Likely wheel bearing. Don't? Not.
Have someone drive under same condition while you listen - determine which side, metal on metal sound, etc.
Not much back there to go wrong. Shock unlikely. Check to see if brake shield is hitting anything.
Likely wheel bearing. Don't? Not.
Have someone drive under same condition while you listen - determine which side, metal on metal sound, etc.
Not much back there to go wrong. Shock unlikely. Check to see if brake shield is hitting anything.
#4
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Mundelein, IL
Age: 61
Posts: 1,687
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
2 Posts
Re: Clunk-clunk sound from rear
Originally posted by daverman
I'm now hearing a very faint clunking noise coming from the rear of the car when I'm backing up or moving at very low speeds (<5 mph). It sounds like a marble in a soda can, but kinda muffled.
I think it's coming from the exhaust pipes or mufflers rattling against their supports, but I tried jiggling both pipes and can't reproduce the sound.
I hope it's not the wheel bearings...
Any ideas?
I'm now hearing a very faint clunking noise coming from the rear of the car when I'm backing up or moving at very low speeds (<5 mph). It sounds like a marble in a soda can, but kinda muffled.
I think it's coming from the exhaust pipes or mufflers rattling against their supports, but I tried jiggling both pipes and can't reproduce the sound.
I hope it's not the wheel bearings...
Any ideas?
I doubt it's the bearings. Bad bearings don't make a clunking sound. It's more like a loud cyclical hum (i.e. hum-hum) that gets louder with speed and when weight is transferred onto the bad wheel (like going into a curve). I speak from experience here too since my Vigor required the left front wheel bearing replaced at 85K miles.
#7
Drifting
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Kansas City, KS, USA
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by bricot
Did you leave your salesman in the trunk???
Did you leave your salesman in the trunk???
![Big Grin](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
![Big Grin](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Thanks for all your ideas, fellas. I think I'll have the dealer jack the car up during my next oil change. I bet it's the exhaust hanger. I've had the rubber mount come off of one hanger once.
Trending Topics
#8
Drifting
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Kansas City, KS, USA
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
OK, I went to Superior Acura. They jacked the car up and asked me to look with the service guy under the car. The whole exhaust assembly was secured and well isolated from the car body... but what's this?
Apparently what has been making the clunking noise was the plastic retainer clip which holds the wire coming from the oxygen sensor in the catalytic converter. It was sitting loosely against the heat shield. Whenever I would hit a bump, the retainer would move in its slot and make a clunking noise against the heat shield.
There's nothing we could do about it. It seems to be a design flaw in the retainer. The gap was too large for the thickness of the heat shield.
I think I'll get the service guys to order a new retainer clip and see if that one has the same problem. In the mean time, if you're curious about what I'm talking about, reach up under your car just behind the front passenger-side wheel, about 1.5' towards the center. You'll feel a lone wire extending down towards the catalytic converter. Tug and jiggle this wire and see if you can get a clunking sound to come out.
Apparently what has been making the clunking noise was the plastic retainer clip which holds the wire coming from the oxygen sensor in the catalytic converter. It was sitting loosely against the heat shield. Whenever I would hit a bump, the retainer would move in its slot and make a clunking noise against the heat shield.
There's nothing we could do about it. It seems to be a design flaw in the retainer. The gap was too large for the thickness of the heat shield.
I think I'll get the service guys to order a new retainer clip and see if that one has the same problem. In the mean time, if you're curious about what I'm talking about, reach up under your car just behind the front passenger-side wheel, about 1.5' towards the center. You'll feel a lone wire extending down towards the catalytic converter. Tug and jiggle this wire and see if you can get a clunking sound to come out.
#10
Burning Brakes
A PLASTIC Retainer clip making a metallic sound? Hmmm, I'm not convinced. Then again, dealers aren't often known for their troubleshooting saavy.
Are you sure it's not the brake pads? On my TL-S and my 95 Accord EX, the first time I apply the brakes when backing out of my driveway, I get a distinct clunk-clunk. If I continuing backing and apply the brakes again, no more clunking. Then, I put the car in drive, and hit the brakes lightly after just starting to roll forward again, clunk-clunk. After that, no more. You get it once the first time in reverse, then once the first time going forward. If I had to guess, the steel pad backs are designed with a bit of clearance in the caliper when cold, to allow for expansion as they are heated up during use.
My friend's '01 EX-V6 does it, too. Same exact sound, under the same exact conditions.
I would complain, except that after 7 years and 107K miles, I'm still on the original brakes on the EX. What's to complain about?
Todd
![Roll Eyes](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif)
Are you sure it's not the brake pads? On my TL-S and my 95 Accord EX, the first time I apply the brakes when backing out of my driveway, I get a distinct clunk-clunk. If I continuing backing and apply the brakes again, no more clunking. Then, I put the car in drive, and hit the brakes lightly after just starting to roll forward again, clunk-clunk. After that, no more. You get it once the first time in reverse, then once the first time going forward. If I had to guess, the steel pad backs are designed with a bit of clearance in the caliper when cold, to allow for expansion as they are heated up during use.
My friend's '01 EX-V6 does it, too. Same exact sound, under the same exact conditions.
I would complain, except that after 7 years and 107K miles, I'm still on the original brakes on the EX. What's to complain about?
Todd
#11
Drifting
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Kansas City, KS, USA
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by T Ho
A PLASTIC Retainer clip making a metallic sound? Hmmm, I'm not convinced. Then again, dealers aren't often known for their troubleshooting saavy.
A PLASTIC Retainer clip making a metallic sound? Hmmm, I'm not convinced. Then again, dealers aren't often known for their troubleshooting saavy.
![Roll Eyes](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif)
Are you sure it's not the brake pads? On my TL-S and my 95 Accord EX, the first time I apply the brakes when backing out of my driveway, I get a distinct clunk-clunk. If I continuing backing and apply the brakes again, no more clunking. Then, I put the car in drive, and hit the brakes lightly after just starting to roll forward again, clunk-clunk. After that, no more. You get it once the first time in reverse, then once the first time going forward. If I had to guess, the steel pad backs are designed with a bit of clearance in the caliper when cold, to allow for expansion as they are heated up during use.
#12
Not a Blowhole
Acura has had problems over the years with bushings int he trailing arms - they have had several fixes, including plastic shims. I would get some good silicone lube (3M) and shoot all the bushings you can find back there. Also make sure the brake splash shield has not been bent - it is very thin metal and can get out of whack.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rockyboy
2G RDX (2013-2018)
170
12-06-2022 02:29 PM
snorf
2G RDX (2013-2018)
429
11-04-2019 06:44 AM