How to access top of rear strut mounts - BC Coilover Sounds

[funkee]

Hey all,

I finally got the nasty clunking fixed in my rear. It was a bad shock cartridge. Replacing it did the trick.

But now I'm getting this clicking sound in the same area. It's rather quiet, but very noticeable. The clicking is similar to the sound of the second hand on a clock. It occurs while I'm driving, even on the smoothest pavement - about 3 to 4 clicks per second. The sound does occur with a higher frequency on bad roads.

I moved everything around in my trunk. When I pressed down in the back, I could hear the noise. I'm not sure exactly what is causing it, but I can tell it's coming from the top of the strut.

I want to inspect the area, but I have no idea how to get to it. I tried going in from the trunk, but it's completely sealed by metal. I tried going in behind the back seat, but also could not. There is some cloth attached by a plastic clip I haven't popped out, but I can't imagine there is enough space behind it to get there.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks.

[Mr. Music]

The top of the rear shocks bolt up to two studs coming out underneath the car. If you take the wheel off, you'll be able to get at it. From what I've read on the forums, that type of noise is usually the result of something not being tight enough. Check page 10 of the RSU section of the service manual for torque info.

[funkee]

I checked those two nuts and they are tight. I guess you can't access the top of those bolts, is that right? There's also a plastic stopper on the piston rod of the new shock. I thought that might be making noise, but it's not.

[DJ_B_Easy]

You cant get to the top of those bolts without cutting metal AFAIK. You can try sticking your hand in the trunk off to the side, Ive gotten my hand and a hammer as far as the fuel door that way. Obviously you will have to remove the carpet.

[funkee]

Thanks. I can't imagine what is making that noise. It sounds like a loser washer almost. But the two bolts on the underside are tight. Any ideas?

[DJ_B_Easy]

I cant speak on any experience of coils, because I have never had them.

I will opine that those bolts are stationary though. I would imagine they are welded into the body, I doubt there is even top access to them. Did you check brakes? See if the noise still occurs while braking?

[funkee]

It does occur while braking. It's coming from the mount area. There is a speaker there too. I thought that might be it, but I have no easy way of telling without someone riding in my trunk.

I would also compare the sound to a tiny loose screw bouncing around. But it happens when I push down on the rear rather softly, so I don't think that is it either.

[Mr. Music]

I'm with DJ_B_Easy on that those two studs that the shock mounts attach to are stationary; they are probably welded in place. With the factory setup, the rear shocks attach to the mount with one bolt, then the mount attaches to the car with the two bolts you already checked. Inside the mount, there is a washer, bushing, and a "distance tube" under a cap (items #1-4 in the diagram on page 10 of the rear suspension section of the service manual linked in my other post), so there may be something in there making the noise. To get to all that, it would probably be easiest to just remove the whole shock assembly and work on it away from the car. If I remember correctly, the BC Coils have the coil spring separate from the shock in the rear, so I'd bet that the setup with the coils is pretty similar to the factory setup.