Clunking rear

[tommy583]

Ok so it has come time to remove the car from it's winter cocoon. Driving it yesterday refreshed my memory of some strange noises. A clunk from the rear end over small bumps for one. The most likely cause of this I would think are the track bars. The front end also makes a few weird noises. What goes out first in this area? Drop links? The car also needs new tires. Even though I may end up getting a newer Boxster this year, I still need to address these issues. I may keep it or I may sell it. Either way I need to make it better. What are the most common front end noise makers? I'd imagine with 150K it would make sense to replace everything, but I don't have the cash for that.

Thanks,
Tommy

[Stl-986]

check the shocks & struts to see if they are leaking. That many miles they are going to be bad most likely. Other thing it could be would be the sway bar end links & bushings which are cheap & easy to do.

[ike84]

You're spot in - track arms in the rear, drop li ks up front. Although control arms can go clunk too. Stl is right - check sway bars and bushings. Struts too if it feels like there's a lot of play in the picture, mine in has 47k but my struts were so far gone that even the bump stops had disintegrated.

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[Chboro]

Getting ready to do my rear trailing arms. Going to check that strut pinch bolt as well.

Wondering though - just which end of the trailing arm is causing the clunk?

[FoFoJoe]

Just to add a data point here, I think I have the same "clunk" that OP described. Mine happens at low speeds on bumpy driveways/uneven roads. In researching the cause before, the rear trailing arms seemed to be the culprit. It never annoyed me enough to fix it though....

I am not sure which side would cause the noise on the trailing arm, but I'm sure its from one of the bushings thats built into the arm.

[safesaxbdd]

I had the same problem. First I replaced the rear track arms; maybe helped a little bit. Then the drop links. Maybe helped another little skosh. But the real solving of the problem, for me, was to basically replace all four corners' control arms, as those bushings were worn from age. I also did the tie rods up front while I was at it. It was definitely night and day - ain't perfect, as I do think new shocks would help - but it took care of most of THAT noise. (Now if I can only figure out how to tighten the top/body panels so they don't rattle/squeak when going over poor roads...)

[moosport]

@tommy583 i fixed the rattle by putting the top down.

@safesaxbdd, i replaced the front control arms, outer tie rods, shock mounts, bump stops, rear track arms and all shocks. which brings the ride to almost factory new and no noise.

[elav]

What brand control arms are people buying? Replacement bushings can be the same price as a new one (if not Porsche brand).

[elgyqc]

Has anyone tried Meyle suspension parts as sold on eBay? They supposedly are German and from what I have seen in online discussions they can be as good as other after market parts.

[dghii]

I bought TRW trailing arms off of Amaz a few years ago...great price and OEM. Clunking gone and not hard to install.

[Benitom]

@tommy583 if funds are tight - i recently changed sway bar links with TRW links and changed sway bar bushings with OEM porsche bushings. Total was about $200.00 Aftermarket bushing will be less. I need shocks and this will hold me over in the meantime. Major difference in handling. But I still feel large bumps cause shocks are coming to their end. I am at about 79k miles. (1998 Boxster)

[tommy583]

Hi guys. I still never got around to fixing the clunk. I just put the top down like someone above said. Now I have the clunk in the rear and a squeak on the right front. Bumps make it squeak and turning right makes it squeak more. Looks like I will need to take care of these noises this spring.