Clunk Revisited

[Badger]

I searched under this topic quite a bit. I notice a clunk sound when I have been driving forward for a distance and then put the car into reverse. The clunk doesn't actually occur until you hit the gas in reverse and the car starts to move.
I had an experience MM mech look at this and he could not find the problem.
I have several theories to work on.
1. Gear lash....but wouldn't that also occur when I put it into forward from reverse?
2. U Joint...same as the above.
3. Shock
4. Control arm.

I managed to reproduce the sound the other day when I was messing around at low speed. I put the transmission into 1st at about 26mph. As the weight transfered I heard the clunk. It would seem to me that the sound occurs with weight transfer vs driveline rotational speed. The clunk only seems to occur when the back axle is pulled backwards by either accelerating backwards or using the drivetarin to slow the car.
I'll have my tech look into this theory next week.
Anyone else notice this pattern?

[magindat]

It's the sleeve (one of them) in the control arm bushing moving on the bolt. Tighten the ***** out of the control arm bolts and it'll quit.

[DEFYANT]

If you still have OEM control arms, I'd swap them for a set of Metcos anyway.

[RCSignals]

My '03 CVPI had such a low speed clunk like that. The dealer checked tightened everything in the suspension.

Turned out it wasn't suspension at all, but a pad at the cowl/frame that was positioned incorrectly. That was fixed and no clunks since.

[Badger]

Cahrlie,

Had em' installed during #117 install. Metco was right down the street and I got a very very good deal and tour of their facility. :D

[Local Boy]

Just a thought - Motor or trans mount loose or compressed.

[Badger]

It was Culprit #4. This thing was driving me crazy!!! Anytime I would go from forwards to reverse it would clunk. If I braked hard coming up to a stoplight I could feel something bind and release when I started up on the green signal.
Turns out it was the control arm bushings. My mechanic managed to find it.
So I can rule out the parking brake, bad shock, loose body/frame mount, exhaust pipe hanger etc. It was the control arms.
Anyone with the Metcos should check them if they experience any of the symtoms I did.

[knine]

Same problem with BLUE and I have the Z&M controls arms, it did it before install and after. Where is said pad?

[Badger]

With the Metcos you use their bushings. With the Z&M controls arms I think you either retain the originals or use a set of new stock bushings. In either case those of us who have had the control arms replaced it seems like these bolts like to come loose. I was there when my SC installer tightened them down to spec. 20k miles later they were loose. The frames on these cars are so stiff that they transmit sounds and vibration so well. I could swear that my right front shock had gone bad and was binding up. What I was feeling was the right rear control arm moving upon startup from a light (after moderate braking). I could actually feel this through the steering wheel! I also thought it was a brake caliper loose. I've been chasing this darn clunk for over a year! My mechanic owns a MM so it wasn't like he was ignorant of MMs.
Anyone who has had their control arms replaced should get these suckers checked. The beast is one solid car now. I've been driving it gently not knowing what was causing the sound and not wanting to stress it to the breaking point. My mechanic finally had someone in his shop lay down next to the car and recreate the sound. His buddy pinpointed it to in front of the rear wheel. Kudos to his shop!