Please explain Rear Suspension Bushings?
 

Guys I don't understand what I need to purchase perhaps you can help me.
A qualified 3rd Gen Mechanic (Mazcare) has told me that the clunking I hear in the rear of my car is the rear suspension, because the bushings are worn out.
I believe him.
Now please help me determine what I need to purchase to stop the clunking.
If I buy the Pettit

• TRACK-PRO LAUNCH KIT (Street)
• TRACK-PRO TOE LINK KIT

or the M2

• Competition Trailing Arms Set:
• Competition Toe Link Set:

Will this replace all the bushings that I need to replace? I don't race the car and I think that the stock ride quality and handling are fine for me.

What do ya'll think?
Thanks!!!

Id like to know too!!

There are 8 rear suspension bushings. A mechanic or yourself needs to figure out which ones are loose. Good luck.

BTW, I just had the toe and trailing link bushings replaced under warranty. Not cheap.

Ok,
So I did research in the shop manual and if someone could verify and / or deny my analysis I would appriciate it.
There are 4 parts to the rear suspension:

• Upper Arm
• Lower Arm
• I-Arm
• Toe Control Link

Here is a list of all the different bushings that go into the different control arms.[list=1][*]Upper Arm

1 Pillow ball bushing
2 Upper Arm bushing
1 Dampner bushing
[*]Rear Lower Arm

1 Pillow ball bushing
2 (other) pillow ball bushing
[*]I-Arm

1 bushing
[*]Toe Control Link

2 bushing[/list=1]

I have checked out Max Cooper's website and I understand how to do some of the pillow bushing replacements, however if someone of experience here would like to chime in I would appriciate it.

The m2 toe link replaces the " Toe control link", the the trailing arm replaces the "I - arm". I replaced mine, but did not get rid of the rear clunking. I also replaced the bushings in the upper control arm, no luck there either. I have checked all the pillow ball joints for play, nope. The only bushings I have not replaced are the differential mount bushings.
Many others have done similar mods and couldn't get rid of the clunk. The mods will improve suspension response, but may not remove the clunk noise.

That is valuable information, thank you for sharing.
Instead of going to the M2 and or Pettit Solutions, I may just pick up some stock bushings.

I also had the clunking but it was less of a concern than the wheel hop and toe control problems with the stock trailing arms and toe links. However, I figured I would try to get rid of the clunk while I was in there.

I could hear the clunk as I pushed (HARD) on the top and bottom of the tire. There was no visible movement but if you put your hand on the two mating parts around each spherical bearing (bushing) you can feel the movement. My play was in the outer-upper control arm spherical bearings, new ones fixed it.

I haven't had the car at the track yet (this was December in MI:) but I hope the new bearings and links help get those rear wheels under control. I'd be interested in comments on other's experience with these parts. (lots of people talk about the install and how it affects there street driving but I've heard little about the track performance)

Good luck,
Alex

You just have to get under there and see what is loose. And then replace what moves until the clunk goes away. Mine got much better when I replaced the toe links and pillow balls, but I would still hear it every once in a while. Now I have bad wheel bearings and it is clunking again.

-Max

What I did was just jack up the rear, put it on jack stands, and have someone jack up the tire with a jack. For sure you WILL see the component with the bad bushing move around. If not, just manually move each suspension component around until you find the culprit.

I did some investigation today, (I did a front brake job). In the passenger side rear end I grabbed hold of the brake caliber and moved it into and away from the car...
I think... (I think) that it's the toe link that is causing my clunking.
Instead of replacing the bushings in the toe link it might be easier just to buy a M2 replacement or a Pettit replacement.

The rear calipers are not rigidly affixed to the car in that direction, so they are supposed to move. But, it is pretty likely that your toe link bushings are worn. Jack up the corner of the car and wiggle the wheel around. You'll probably find that you can clunk it around just a bit in a few directions. Look at the suspension pieces as someone else moved them around, and you will be able to see them moving out of sync with each other.

-Max