If you hear a clunking noise from the rear of your car every time you drive over a bump, there are a couple parts you can check to find the cause. Usually, the say bar links or sway bar bushings are worn or loose, and our mechanics will show you what to look for and how you can fix it yourself.
What Causes the Clunking Noise in My Car?
If you hear a clunking noise every time you drive over a bump, it’s probably from worn sway bar bushings or sway bar links.
Sway Bar Bushings
The sway bar bushings that help keep the sway bar in place can crack, loosen, wear, and stretch out over time, creating opportunity for the sway bar to move around.
Sway Bar End Links
The sway bar end links at the end of the sway bar can wear out over time, causing the sway bar to clunk against other parts as the vehicle moves down the road.
Signs the Sway Bar Bushings and Sway Bar Links Need Replacing
Worn or Torn Sway Bar Bushings
If the sway bar bushings are worn, torn, or loose, they will need to be replaced. To test, if the sway bar can move around and has play at the bushing where a quieting clunking sound can be simulated, the bushing needs to be replaced.
Worn or Torn Sway Bar End Links
If the sway bar end links are worn, torn, rusted out, or loose, they will create a clunking or knocking sounds when driving over bumps.
How to Fix a Clunking Noise at the Rear of Your Car
Fixing the Sway Bar Bushings
If you need to replace worn or loose sway bar bushings, we recommend you replace them in pairs. This can be a fairly easy repair to do yourself. Watch this video for a general idea of the steps for replacing them.
Fixing the Sway Bar End Links
If you need to replace worn sway bar end links, they can be fixed with simple hand tools. We recommend replacing both at the same time. Check out this video to get an idea of the steps.
To find how-to videos specific to your year, make, and model, check out 1A Auto’s how-to video library.
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