Why does my car make funny noises? **New noise

[WinkOsmosis]

When I go over bumps, I can hear a clattering sound coming from the rear, I assume the suspension. When I push down on the car, I don't hear anything though, so I assume something is loose. When I put the rear seat down, it is louder, which may or may not mean anything. Any ideas before I take it to a mechanic?
Car is a 1995 240sx.

 

[amdskip]

something in the suspension must be messed up, ever have any of it changed before?

 

[jlee]

Struts..? Dunno..

 

[Ryan]

Struts? I NSF4 had this same problem, and so do I. When I go over bumps, I hear a creaking noise from the rear wheel wells, but mine also creaks when I get out of my car. It does not do it when I push down on the car.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Funny noises? It's not a Clown Car is it ?

 

[JC]

Kick the tailpipe a few times and see if it's the exhaust hitting something.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
Struts? I NSF4 had this same problem, and so do I. When I go over bumps, I hear a creaking noise from the rear wheel wells, but mine also creaks when I get out of my car. It does not do it when I push down on the car.

I hear creaking when I drive up on sloping driveways at an angle. I figured that was just the car flexing.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: JC
Kick the tailpipe a few times and see if it's the exhaust hitting something.

The funny thing is I never even considered the exhaust pipe until I was posting this thread.

Not the exhaust pipe though. It is mounted firmly and barely shakes when I kick it. I don't think there is any chance that it is hitting anything.

 

[Spac3d]

Maybe you have a bunch of metal things in your trunk that jump up when you go over the bump.

Maybe not.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: Spac3d
Maybe you have a bunch of metal things in your trunk that jump up when you go over the bump.

Maybe not.

Nah I checked that.

 

[JC]

The creaking noise could point to bad struts. Is there any leakage?

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: JC
The creaking noise could point to bad struts. Is there any leakage?

Bad shocks I assume you mean?

 

[JC]

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: JC
The creaking noise could point to bad struts. Is there any leakage?

Bad shocks I assume you mean?

What, 240s don't have Macpherson struts in the back?

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: JC

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: JC
The creaking noise could point to bad struts. Is there any leakage?

Bad shocks I assume you mean?

What, 240s don't have Macpherson struts in the back?

http://www.tortoisehead.com/suspension.jpg

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that a double wishbone "multilink" set up? I know it's not MacPherson because it has two lateral Hs or As or wishbones, or whatever you want to call them. The front is MacPherson.

 

[ElFenix]

you sure theres nothing in your trunk? checked under the spare?

 

[JC]

Yes, that's some sorta multilink. But where are the springs? If they're up on top/around the shocks, those are Macpherson struts.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
you sure theres nothing in your trunk? checked under the spare?

There may be something hiding. I'll check.

Edit: I can't test though.. I'm in Houston. The roads here are too smooth. I have to wait until I go back to Austin.

I'm not even joking .

 

[WinkOsmosis]

There is another noise I forgot about. Something when I reverse, after I reverse for a certain distance, I hear a rubbing sound, like plastic rubbing on metal. The distance I have to go before hearing that seems to vary. I'm pretty damn sure I'm not hitting things!

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

It's either your rear-subframe bushings or your rear sway-bar end-link bushings.

I had the same problem on the 240SX as well, I never bothered fixing it though. The bushings are worn out which cause the noise when the car goes over bumps or rough roads.

Also if you get a click noise when you corner slowly thats your brakes. If you replace your rotors/pads, that noise goes away as well.

Also the 240SX chassis is quite stiff, so it won't flex over bumps enough to cause noise.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
It's either your rear-subframe bushings or your rear sway-bar end-link bushings.

I had the same problem on the 240SX as well, I never bothered fixing it though. The bushings are worn out which cause the noise when the car goes over bumps or rough roads.

Also if you get a click noise when you corner slowly thats your brakes. If you replace your rotors/pads, that noise goes away as well.

Also the 240SX chassis is quite stiff, so it won't flex over bumps enough to cause noise.

Thanks for the diagnosis! I'll probably just leave it alone now that I know it's not serious.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
It's either your rear-subframe bushings or your rear sway-bar end-link bushings.

I had the same problem on the 240SX as well, I never bothered fixing it though. The bushings are worn out which cause the noise when the car goes over bumps or rough roads.

Also if you get a click noise when you corner slowly thats your brakes. If you replace your rotors/pads, that noise goes away as well.

Also the 240SX chassis is quite stiff, so it won't flex over bumps enough to cause noise.

Thanks for the diagnosis! I'll probably just leave it alone now that I know it's not serious.

No problem. However in the long run, it probably would be wise to fix. Replacing the bushings in the suspension usually results in a dramatic change in the car's dynamics. The bushings themselves are cheap, but its a pain to actually replace. I was planning on doing a full bushing replacement in the summer....