Clunking in rear end/ subframe area after gear engagement
 

I took the seven for a drive for the first time in the past 7 years to try and get my cooling system to flow properly, although i noticed a clunking noise coming from my rear end when i hit gas going from a coast and after i switch gears. Like something is jolting. Differential mounts? I never had this issue before the car went down. Doesnt sound good sounds like my rear subframe is about to just fall out from underneath the car. Anyone else had this issue? Or what can i check to verify my problem. I have Delrin differential mounts i purchased off here but just bought them cause i wanted to eventually upgrade not because i thought there was a chance i needed them.

Mostly the pillow ball bushings are the cause.. along with the old stock bushings.. i had the clunking, which was caused by the pillow balls and the stock toe links being worn... got after market ones and pillow balls and its fine now.

Had them same problem with the read end clunk. Sounds like a pretty common issue, you can search for rear end clunk, pillow balls and read about it. There are threads that talk about how to tell if you pillowballs are bad and what the replacement options are. In my opinion the are basically three choices.

1) buy new oem bushings and have them pressed in
2) buy aftermarket bushings and have them pressed in
3) buy used rear suspension parts and use those

Aftermarket bushings dont last as long as the OEM and they are stiffer so they may translate more vibrations but they cost about the same

your referring to the pillow balls on the top of my rear suspension? How did you check to find out what was worn? just visual inspections or what?

I replaced my toe links, trailing arms, and rear lower control arms and the clunking went away. I contacted Japan2LA here on the forum and he had low mile, good condition suspension pieces that I bought.

Yes it was just a visual inspection, I dont quite remember how you can check them but I know if you search you'll find it. From what I rememeber there are six pillow balls total three on each side. Two in the lower control arm and one in the upper control arm. I think if you grab the tire at nine oclock and three oclock and try and wiggle it, it shouldnt move. The diff bushings can be checked by jacking up on the diff and it should only move about an inch.

Here is a bookmark I had on the subject

http://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/how-to/...lls/index.html

great thanks ill look it over

I believe the Aftermarket lasts longer than OEM, and i have all super pro bushings and i didnt really notice anymore vibrations than before, i believe power flex is pretty much the same as super pro.

Because these cars are so old and if they have anymore than 50k miles i can almost bet your pillow balls are done. the ride is completely different when all of them are done. if you have the stock diff bushings they are filled with liquid that when they go bad leak out and need to be changed out.

Yep mine were bad also here are some pic;s of them. They were clunking real bad. The car handles so much better now.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...7/P2200079.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...7/P2200080.jpg



Oh and there not cheep!!

Found a site called WWW.j-automotive.com that seems to carry a lot of options and pretty decent pricing

yea he is on the forum all the time, talked to him a week ago about the koyo wheel bearing he sells

Good to know.....now to do a visual on what needs to be replaced tonight, then to go work the corner to afford it

I have heard you can jack up the car and try to " steer" the wheel to see if they are loose.

That did not work for me but when i replaced mine the old bushings were so loose i could spin them like a bearing by hand and when i twisted them they would move without effort. New bushings i could not spin or twist at all with my hand.

If you replace them definately use a press, the bolt and washer method definately works but if you value your time at more than $5 per hour just pay someone to press them in or aquire a new shop tool.

Are you guys replacing your ball joints with OEM replacements, or aftermarket versions?

Edit: Nvm, looks like I answered my own question with the J-AUTO link. Wooo boy, they aren't cheap, well worth the money though, the clunking is terrible.

I dont think you can find these in "after market".

I dont know i jacked the 7 up and yes it had pplay side to side on both wheels although i had mmy buddy move the wheels side to side while i looked at the pillow balls in the I-Arms very little movement. Maybe that millimeter of movement or less is enough but damn thats a lot of noise for such little movement. I snapped a picture of on side as well because based on a visial inspection they honestly didnt look that bad. I will upload once i get to my computer. Also jacked up difdifferential and no play there up and down so i would imagine the differential bushings are good

Op, I'm in the middle of doing my pillow balls right now as I have the clunk. It was really easy. My only issue was that I found one of my upper control arms has a really bad gouge in the race and sleeve so I went ahead and bought from another member a new to me low mileage arm and am waiting for it to return. Looks to have been from pressing the previous bushing in.

I used a socket and a harbor freight 3 in one press kit to pop them out and reinstall without any problems. (except the one bad I found).

Ill keep in mind the harbor freight press kit thanks

moving the wheel, i wont believe tell you if you pillowballs are bad, but can tell you if your toe links bushings are bad.

Well on front wheels you can move wheels side to aide to check inner and putter tie rods, and up and down to check wheel bearings. So being there is no tie rods in the rear, and up and down have no play, along with slight movement in I-arm inner bushings where they meet the spindle i guess that could be the cause of the clunking. All I'm saying is that the play is very little. And nothing really visable to say they are messed up. God nothing is easy i swear lol

Get the atomic rex pillow ball replacements. Nice upgrade.

Says they are sold out at the moment

contact juan on the forum and see when he will get them in

Anyone know his handle on here?