Rep Power: 0

My saloon '96 EK4 makes a thumping noise when I drive over unpaved roads. This noise isn't heard when I drive into a big bump but increases when the roads are wet. My mechanic is blaming the tie rod ends &/or rear trailing arm bushes. I am not convinced these are the culprits. What do you guys think?

 
Rep Power: 245

Where is the noise coming from? If from the front, be sure to check the upper control arm mounting bolts (found on the front and backside of the strut towers).

But, the rain 'shouldn't' affect this. Let us know a bit more information about the sound if possible.

 
Rep Power: 0

http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...o/4213443.html

Try the tool on that page, and see if it fits number eight, if it fits the description then you mechanic might be right.

 
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Same thing happened to my car after my new shocks and coils was installed. mines made a clunking noise at the front passenger side for about 2 weeks and just went away right afterwords (when i was about to get it checked out). It could be your shocks or coils making the noise or it could be that something is loose underneath, like control arm brushing, sway bar brushing and end links etc. Get another mechanic opinion and take it from there.

 
Rep Power: 812

if your springs dont have coil protectors (plastic cover on some of the springs), that might do it, or a bad strut mount bearing, or the shocks not being indexed properly.

 
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I have since changed the tie rods and rear trailing arm bushes. The noise from the front is gone and I've noticed a drastic improvement in overall ride quality. Problem is, there's still a noise coming from the back. It's a clicking noise when dry and thumping noise when wet! Going over a speed bump doesn't trigger the noise but going into a pot hole does.

My mechanic says the shocks and springs are fine.

 
Rep Power: 245

I'd check the rear upper control arm bushings. I'm not sure about the sound change though. I had one bushing (out of 4) dry rot but the car lived in the desert it's whole life.

You can change out an upper rear control arm yourself easily if you can change a tire. I bought one used for $10.

Hmm, the sound change. The more I think about this, the more I have other thoughts. I replaced one rear strut (stripped the allen head due to rust when I changed to Eibach Pro-Kit springs) with a cheap-o from Autozone. Ever since then that strut clunks and it seems to be more noisier in the rain. Interesting, do you have OEM struts?

 
Rep Power: 812

could be rear sway bushing too

 
Rep Power: 245

It could be, if he installed one. The car didn't come with a rear sway bar from the factory (at least here in the states).

 
Rep Power: 0

Gearbox, you were right. My mechanic said I need to change the rear sway bar bushings and links. I've ordered the parts and they should be here in about a month. Sway bar was factory fitted.

 
Rep Power: 245

lambada: glad you figured it out!

 
Rep Power: 0

It might be your swaybar link. It connects your swaybar to your control arm. I replaced the suspension and all of the front bushings trying to fix a knock and finally when I came to the control arm bushing I took off the sway bar and seen that these links had gone bad. It is nearly impossible to tell that they are bad unless you unbolt the swaybar from it because of the way the bar hangs. Check it out...easy fix.