Clunk-clunk in rear suspension of 86 GLi

On Apr 6, 11:01 am, Chubster <chubs....DeleteThis@chub.net> wrote:
> OK, so I just picked up an '86 Jetta GLi Wolfsburg Edition, unknown
> mileage (PO claims it's around 169k miles, odometer reads 151k but
> doens't always work.)  On the test drive around the parking lot, there
> was a very persistent, annoying "clunk-clunk, clunkety-clunk" that
> happened as I went over bumps and ripples in the pavement. It actually
> sounds like it's coming from the passenger side rear pillar (aka
> C-pillar), but I suspect it's really at the top of the strut on that
> side (I could hear something was a bit loose when I put my weight on
> that corner of the car.)
>
> I pulled the stiff shaped-carpet liner in the trunk away from the
> strut, and it looked OK to my untrained eye (but this was a very brief
> look.
>
> Any common causes for a clunk at the top of the rear strut? Any cheap,
> quick fixes?
>
> What years of cars have struts that would fit in this 1986 Jetta?
> Would Golf parts fit too?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Chub

Could it be part of the exhaust system that is clunking because the
donuts holding it in are missing, stretched or cracked?

Could also be a dislodged fender well liner (if you have them) hitting
the wheel - any scrape marks visible?

Could also be the spare tire not being properly tied down? Or the jack
or something else?

Check the not-so-expensive potential clunks first before going for the
really expensive ones. With the car properly chocked and blocked and
preferably up on ramps, get underneath and push things around, pull on
various parts and hunt for something loose. Look for anything from
broken straps holding the fuel tank to broken springs to loose heat-
shields to missing donuts, whatever. Use a strong flashlight, wear old
clothes and wear a face-mask - spitting out bits of greasy sludge is
no fun at all.

A good thing to do in the springtime anyway if your vehicle is exposed
to salt and other corrosives, or is getting up there in age and
mileage - which is the case here. I do it even with our (relatively)
much newer cars.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA
 >> Stay informed about: Clunk-clunk in rear suspension of 86 GLi 

On Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:51:45 -0400, starburst <nope RemoveThis @nospam.net> wrote:

>Chubster wrote:
>> OK, so I just picked up an '86 Jetta GLi Wolfsburg Edition, unknown
>> mileage (PO claims it's around 169k miles, odometer reads 151k but
>> doens't always work.) On the test drive around the parking lot, there
>> was a very persistent, annoying "clunk-clunk, clunkety-clunk" that
>> happened as I went over bumps and ripples in the pavement. It actually
>> sounds like it's coming from the passenger side rear pillar (aka
>> C-pillar), but I suspect it's really at the top of the strut on that
>> side (I could hear something was a bit loose when I put my weight on
>> that corner of the car.)
>>
>> I pulled the stiff shaped-carpet liner in the trunk away from the
>> strut, and it looked OK to my untrained eye (but this was a very brief
>> look.
>>
>> Any common causes for a clunk at the top of the rear strut? Any cheap,
>> quick fixes?
>>
>> What years of cars have struts that would fit in this 1986 Jetta?
>> Would Golf parts fit too?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Chub
>
>Could maybe be the top of the strut tower has rusted out, or the strut
>itself is loose. Is the car sagging in the back at all? Has the car
>lived in an area where they salt the roads?

The suspension tower is solid and clean - no rust - and I don't feel
any looseness at the top of the strut inside the trunk. Maybe I'm
looking in the wrong place, perhaps it isn't the suspension...

Chub
 >> Stay informed about: Clunk-clunk in rear suspension of 86 GLi 

On Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:49:43 -0400, Chubster <chubster.RemoveThis@chub.net>
wrote:

>On Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:51:45 -0400, starburst <nope.RemoveThis@nospam.net> wrote:
>
>>Chubster wrote:
>>> OK, so I just picked up an '86 Jetta GLi Wolfsburg Edition, unknown
>>> mileage (PO claims it's around 169k miles, odometer reads 151k but
>>> doens't always work.) On the test drive around the parking lot, there
>>> was a very persistent, annoying "clunk-clunk, clunkety-clunk" that
>>> happened as I went over bumps and ripples in the pavement. It actually
>>> sounds like it's coming from the passenger side rear pillar (aka
>>> C-pillar), but I suspect it's really at the top of the strut on that
>>> side (I could hear something was a bit loose when I put my weight on
>>> that corner of the car.)
>>>
>>> I pulled the stiff shaped-carpet liner in the trunk away from the
>>> strut, and it looked OK to my untrained eye (but this was a very brief
>>> look.
>>>
>>> Any common causes for a clunk at the top of the rear strut? Any cheap,
>>> quick fixes?
>>>
>>> What years of cars have struts that would fit in this 1986 Jetta?
>>> Would Golf parts fit too?
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>> Chub
>>
>>Could maybe be the top of the strut tower has rusted out, or the strut
>>itself is loose. Is the car sagging in the back at all? Has the car
>>lived in an area where they salt the roads?
>
>The suspension tower is solid and clean - no rust - and I don't feel
>any looseness at the top of the strut inside the trunk. Maybe I'm
>looking in the wrong place, perhaps it isn't the suspension...
>
>Chub
Rabbits have been known to cluck with old struts and shocks. When you
properly service them you replace all the parts except the bolts that
do not come with the struts or shocks. That would mean new strut
bearings, new bumpers, new dust covers. On the Rabbits cheaper struts
did not seem to last much more than about 50,000 miles.
 >> Stay informed about: Clunk-clunk in rear suspension of 86 GLi 

Jim Behning wrote:
> On Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:49:43 -0400, Chubster <chubster.DeleteThis@chub.net>
> wrote:
>
>
>>On Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:51:45 -0400, starburst <nope.DeleteThis@nospam.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Chubster wrote:
>>>
>>>>OK, so I just picked up an '86 Jetta GLi Wolfsburg Edition, unknown
>>>>mileage (PO claims it's around 169k miles, odometer reads 151k but
>>>>doens't always work.) On the test drive around the parking lot, there
>>>>was a very persistent, annoying "clunk-clunk, clunkety-clunk" that
>>>>happened as I went over bumps and ripples in the pavement. It actually
>>>>sounds like it's coming from the passenger side rear pillar (aka
>>>>C-pillar), but I suspect it's really at the top of the strut on that
>>>>side (I could hear something was a bit loose when I put my weight on
>>>>that corner of the car.)
>>>>
>>>>I pulled the stiff shaped-carpet liner in the trunk away from the
>>>>strut, and it looked OK to my untrained eye (but this was a very brief
>>>>look.
>>>>
>>>>Any common causes for a clunk at the top of the rear strut? Any cheap,
>>>>quick fixes?
>>>>
>>>>What years of cars have struts that would fit in this 1986 Jetta?
>>>>Would Golf parts fit too?
>>>>
>>>>Thanks!
>>>>
>>>>Chub
>>>
>>>Could maybe be the top of the strut tower has rusted out, or the strut
>>>itself is loose. Is the car sagging in the back at all? Has the car
>>>lived in an area where they salt the roads?
>>
>>The suspension tower is solid and clean - no rust - and I don't feel
>>any looseness at the top of the strut inside the trunk. Maybe I'm
>>looking in the wrong place, perhaps it isn't the suspension...
>>
>>Chub
>
> Rabbits have been known to cluck with old struts and shocks. When you
> properly service them you replace all the parts except the bolts that
> do not come with the struts or shocks. That would mean new strut
> bearings, new bumpers, new dust covers. On the Rabbits cheaper struts
> did not seem to last much more than about 50,000 miles.

yup, and if the PO used Boge replacement struts they are probably shot
and causing your noise

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel
 >> Stay informed about: Clunk-clunk in rear suspension of 86 GLi 

I have not seen the rear axle bushings wear out on a A2 Jetta, but it is
possible I guess.
I am replacing a bushing on my '83 Audi 4000's right side of the rear axle.
Maybe a similar noise to yours over bumps like a light rapid tapping of
metal or rattle sounding like a spring loose.

"Nate Nagel" <njnagel.DeleteThis@roosters.net> wrote in message
news:ftmi2e016s9@news2.newsguy.com...
> Jim Behning wrote:
>> On Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:49:43 -0400, Chubster <chubster.DeleteThis@chub.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>On Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:51:45 -0400, starburst <nope.DeleteThis@nospam.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Chubster wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>OK, so I just picked up an '86 Jetta GLi Wolfsburg Edition, unknown
>>>>>mileage (PO claims it's around 169k miles, odometer reads 151k but
>>>>>doens't always work.) On the test drive around the parking lot, there
>>>>>was a very persistent, annoying "clunk-clunk, clunkety-clunk" that
>>>>>happened as I went over bumps and ripples in the pavement. It actually
>>>>>sounds like it's coming from the passenger side rear pillar (aka
>>>>>C-pillar), but I suspect it's really at the top of the strut on that
>>>>>side (I could hear something was a bit loose when I put my weight on
>>>>>that corner of the car.)
>>>>>
>>>>>I pulled the stiff shaped-carpet liner in the trunk away from the
>>>>>strut, and it looked OK to my untrained eye (but this was a very brief
>>>>>look.
>>>>>
>>>>>Any common causes for a clunk at the top of the rear strut? Any cheap,
>>>>>quick fixes?
>>>>>
>>>>>What years of cars have struts that would fit in this 1986 Jetta?
>>>>>Would Golf parts fit too?
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks!
>>>>>
>>>>>Chub
>>>>
>>>>Could maybe be the top of the strut tower has rusted out, or the strut
>>>>itself is loose. Is the car sagging in the back at all? Has the car
>>>>lived in an area where they salt the roads?
>>>
>>>The suspension tower is solid and clean - no rust - and I don't feel
>>>any looseness at the top of the strut inside the trunk. Maybe I'm
>>>looking in the wrong place, perhaps it isn't the suspension...
>>>
>>>Chub
>>
>> Rabbits have been known to cluck with old struts and shocks. When you
>> properly service them you replace all the parts except the bolts that
>> do not come with the struts or shocks. That would mean new strut
>> bearings, new bumpers, new dust covers. On the Rabbits cheaper struts
>> did not seem to last much more than about 50,000 miles.
>
> yup, and if the PO used Boge replacement struts they are probably shot and
> causing your noise
>
> nate
>
> --
> replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
> http://members.cox.net/njnagel
 >> Stay informed about: Clunk-clunk in rear suspension of 86 GLi 

Chubster <chubster DeleteThis @chub.net> wrote:
> OK, so I just picked up an '86 Jetta GLi Wolfsburg Edition, unknown
> mileage (PO claims it's around 169k miles, odometer reads 151k but
> doens't always work.) On the test drive around the parking lot, there
> was a very persistent, annoying "clunk-clunk, clunkety-clunk" that
> happened as I went over bumps and ripples in the pavement. It actually
> sounds like it's coming from the passenger side rear pillar (aka
> C-pillar), but I suspect it's really at the top of the strut on that
> side (I could hear something was a bit loose when I put my weight on
> that corner of the car.)

Most parts are interchangable on Golf and Jettas from 85 through 92. Those
cars did not have struts in the back, they had shock absorbers. They are
cheaper and easier to replace. You don't need a spring compressor for one
thing. If I recall correct the shock comes out with a 17mm nut at the top
and a 17mm nut/bolt at the bottom. However, the one at the top is a pain
to get at in the Jetta. I found you needed to use a 17mm socket with a pair
of ViseGrips. Alternately a very deep offset 17mm box-end wrench would
work but thats a specialty tool.

The "strut mounts" are just a pair of bushings which are about $17 total
per side. It's not a big deal. But like others have said I'd look for
alternate causes before suspecting those. They rarely go bad, and if
they do, the shock is probably long gone.

The 86 GLI is a nice car... Its reliable, gets decent gas mileage, has
good performance, and is cheap and easy to work on. Have fun...
 >> Stay informed about: Clunk-clunk in rear suspension of 86 GLi