Good morning everyone. Within the last 1000 miles i have noticed a rear clunking noise in my car whenever i go over bumps in the road and i am lost on what it could be. This noise happens at all speeds, while driving in a straight line. And by it making a clunking noise over bumps I mean ANY BUMPS, even just small imperfections in the road not just large bumps. I thought maybe it could be something in my trunk by i removed the spare tire/jack and it still makes this noise. I replaced my rotors/pads about 5000 miles ago and have heard that maybe the calipers could come loose but that doesn't seem to be it. They seem pretty tight. I really am lost on what it can be and have lived with the noise for a month or so but it is so damn annoying and kind of embarrassing when someone rides in my car. thanks for any help you guys can give me

summary: cars makes clunking noise in rear going in a straight line

 

TC or SC? If it's a TC 99% chance I know what your problem is.

 

mine does the same thing. Are you lowered? because I thought that maybe my shitty springs rebound or something? I checked out my exhaust and it cant be that. I put under coat down and around and still nothing..... It is very embarrassing when driving down the road and you go over a crack and your rear goes "clunk". I spent hours trying to find it, exhaust shop looked at the exhaust too.

it's not bottoming out, because no way it can over a crack!

 

not lowered and yes it is a TC

its an 08 TC just like yours to be exact

even black and have the same brake set-up

 

Try this:

1) Put your car in reverse on a flat surface and release the e-brake (it absolutely cannot be on)
2) Go the the caliper and try rocking it up/down and see if you can physically move it with your hand. If so you'll hear the "clunk" as the pad seperates from the caliper.

If so, the spring clips on the caliper (which are intended to hold the caliper to the pad holder) need replacing, if not then you've at least ruled that out but I had the exact same symptoms.

 

OMG you are officially the coolest member ever. Thats exactly what it is. The passenger rear caliper. Thank you SOOOOOO much

 

...no problem. It drove me stupid for 2 or 3 weeks before I figured it out. I'll save you the headache .

 

just out of curiousity can you buy the spring clips alone or do you have to buy the whole rear brake pads again? Now that i think of it I might have thrown the other one away. lol

 

They're an AC Delco part (ACD 179-2233) and each was $11.55 Canadian. The package only contains a single spring clip so if you're ordering one, you might want to go with two for the hell of it in case your other side starts doing the same. When you remove it you'll see what the problem is. The ends of the clip are supposed to curve in to seat properly in the holes on the caliper. My guess (using mine as reference) when you remove them you'll find it's actually pointing nearly straight into the caliper instead of curving around .

 

excellent. thank you very much

 

No problem .

 

i know this is an old thread, but could u possibly get a pic of where ur talking about? i think i have the same problem

and is this only a problem on the TC's

 

Could somebody take a picture? Mine rattles so bad.

 

So, after replacing the rear brake retainer spring, whats the next step, Sway bar end links?

 

Mine was a broken coil spring, due to seized up bearings at the top of the spring cup. Replaced those and no more clunky in the rear end.

-Jamie M.

 

Well, got it figured out finally, turns out the pads were on backwards. The one with the spring on it was on the outside instead of the inside, switched that around, no more annoying clunking and i dont hate driving the car anymore!

 

When the dealership replaced my rear brakes under warranty they put the pads on backwards and I had the clicking until I figured that out too.

 

Do S/C's do this? Mine clunks over larger bumps and its annoying as hell.