Clunk under my Disco

[Redback]

I have developed a clunk under the rear of my Disco, it is more pronounced now that i have replaced my rear shocks as the previous shocks bushes had flogged out.

It is very noticable on uneven ground and turning very sharp turns at slow speeds, it doesn't feel like the centre is engaged or the locker is on, that was the first thing i checked.

I have been under the car and checked but don't seem to be able to see anything wrong, all the trailing arm bushes seem fine and all the wheel nuts are tight, brake calipers seem OK, shock mounts, spring mounts, watts link.

Anyone got any ideas as to what it maybe.

Baz.

[LandyAndy]

Hi Baz
Ive got the same noise,a recent addition!!!!
RH rear I think.
I checked all the bushes whilst on the hoist all seemed good.
RichardK also had a quick look he thought all looked OK.
Im wondering if its similar to the drive flange wear on earlier models but I dont think we have them,not got around to looking it up on RAVE yet.
Andrew

[DEFENDERZOOK]

are you definite your rear locker isnt engaged.....?

[Redback]

Yeah pretty sure Tony, it doesn't feel tight and the wheels are turning freely.

Andy i have posted this on the DII Yahoo site and could have a idea as to the clunk, it could be the watts link.

Baz.

[dullbird]

are you positive it is coming from the back????

have you had someone outside listening while you have been driving....

had a clunk coming from my car a little while ago that i have never noticed before was convinced it was coming from the back spring area, but in fact we had found that the bottom of the shock on the front the pin that hangs down had been catching on the axel housing when i went up and down speed humps etc.......

and are you sure as silly as it sounds that its not something banging around in your draws at the back???

are your bushes around the car ok???

have you checked the car structually for cracks i.e chassi etc

[Cameron_Def]

Same sort of sound mine used to make ... now its making more noise ..

I think my CLD is not disengading / engading at will .. so I am on the case tomorrow to resolve this, there is a thread on it, and I will post results tomorrow

:(

[4bee]

are your bushes around the car ok???

Good point.;) Have you pruned back the Hydrangeas & Hibiscus?:D



:angel:

[LandyAndy]

Possibly Baz
Mine spent quite some time with the watts link fitted upside down(bought it that way!!!)
It had rubbed almost thru the linkage where it was touching the diff!!!!!
The original noise went when I rectified the problem so it could be a bush in the linkage now worn and causing the same clunk.
Andrew.

[redfender]

ive got a shocking doublr clunk coming from middle to front rhs
every time i back off the throttle over 50klm
d2 80k on the clock drive shafts and unis look ok and no play
anyone got any ideas

[Redback]

are you positive it is coming from the back????

have you had someone outside listening while you have been driving....

had a clunk coming from my car a little while ago that i have never noticed before was convinced it was coming from the back spring area, but in fact we had found that the bottom of the shock on the front the pin that hangs down had been catching on the axel housing when i went up and down speed humps etc.......

and are you sure as silly as it sounds that its not something banging around in your draws at the back???

are your bushes around the car ok???

have you checked the car structually for cracks i.e chassi etc

That was the first thing i checked Lou, as i am running D1 bottom and top shock mounts, there seems to be no indication the pin of the shock is touching the diff housing.

I also thought that because my CDL is broken and it's the AMV electric one that it might have engaged, but it doesn't appear to be on.

I need to get it up on a hoist to see.

Baz.

[JamesH]

"have you checked the car structually for cracks i.e chassi etc"

Oh dear. :eek: My car clunks in a minor way when load is taken up that you just hear at low speeds manouvering round car parks etc. It's not loud enough to hear when you're at speed but that doesn't mean it's not there. It does not seem to be directly related to any transmission/clutch work I'm doing at the time but sounds like something somewhere taking up some strain when I move off. In other words it sounds exactly what this admittedly unknowledgable bunny would expect a small chassis crack to sound like. And I pranged it a year ago and bent the chassis a tad....

What does a hairline crack actually mean to fix?

[Redback]

"have you checked the car structually for cracks i.e chassi etc"

Oh dear. :eek: My car clunks in a minor way when load is taken up that you just hear at low speeds manouvering round car parks etc. It's not loud enough to hear when you're at speed but that doesn't mean it's not there. It does not seem to be directly related to any transmission/clutch work I'm doing at the time but sounds like something somewhere taking up some strain when I move off. In other words it sounds exactly what this admittedly unknowledgable bunny would expect a small chassis crack to sound like. And I pranged it a year ago and bent the chassis a tad....

What does a hairline crack actually mean to fix?

Yeah i've had a cracked chassis:( so no it's not that, the sound a cracked chassis make is a more of a metel to metel cracking sound.

Baz.

[DirtyDawg]

ive got a shocking doublr clunk coming from middle to front rhs
every time i back off the throttle over 50klm
d2 80k on the clock drive shafts and unis look ok and no play
anyone got any ideas
Check your axle splines on the rear for wear and your rear "A" frame ball joint for wear..I fixed both of these faults and presto tight as a gnats azz...

[dullbird]

Check your axle splines on the rear for wear and your rear "A" frame ball joint for wear..I fixed both of these faults and presto tight as a gnats azz...

i asked phil about rear a frame joint but he said the disco's dont have them is that right is it a defender thing

[Ace]

it could be the watts link.

Baz.

was gunna suggest the same thing, i think mick (CAL415) has been having the same issue and he tracked it down to this, i just replaced my a-frame ball joint because of the same thing.

[Ace]

i asked phil about rear a frame joint but he said the disco's dont have them is that right is it a defender thing

no they went to the watts link in the d2, a-frame is d1. so yes phil is right

[muddydigger]

no they went to the watts link in the d2, a-frame is d1. so yes phil is right


ERR Ive got a D1 and no A frame and no it hasnt been modifid either. So not all d1s have them, depends on the year.

Now although this isnt a cluncking noise storey it does show to look for simple things.

I hada 89 Rangie with a ticking noise. At first I thought it was just a stone in the tyre. thats the noise it sounded like. but no stones it was speed related. I couldnt find it and it drove me nuts. I spent thousands, got told it as rear seals, brake calipers, faulty tyres, al sorts. I spent $2500 to get rid of the problume, but not one mchanic fixed it. Then one day I was that determind I pulled the rear wheel off and looked and looked and looked. couldnt find it. I was so disapointed, so I thought bugger it and went to put the rear wheel back on. Because I was tyred I droppped the wheel and then TINK TINK. I thought that sounds familier, so I picked up the wheel and dropped it again TINK TINK. right Ive found it. IT was a loose wheel weight that as the tyre went round slapped the side it the wheel under weight.

now go look for things, that you thought were right and check again. somehthing wrong somehwere. As I said to the mechanic when he told me youll have to live with it. NO way it didnt come frm the factory with that noise.

[Redback]

i asked phil about rear a frame joint but he said the disco's dont have them is that right is it a defender thing

Yeah as Matt said no don't have an A frame.


ERR Ive got a D1 and no A frame and no it hasnt been modifid either. So not all d1s have them, depends on the year.

Now although this isnt a cluncking noise storey it does show to look for simple things.

I hada 89 Rangie with a ticking noise. At first I thought it was just a stone in the tyre. thats the noise it sounded like. but no stones it was speed related. I couldnt find it and it drove me nuts. I spent thousands, got told it as rear seals, brake calipers, faulty tyres, al sorts. I spent $2500 to get rid of the problume, but not one mchanic fixed it. Then one day I was that determind I pulled the rear wheel off and looked and looked and looked. couldnt find it. I was so disapointed, so I thought bugger it and went to put the rear wheel back on. Because I was tyred I droppped the wheel and then TINK TINK. I thought that sounds familier, so I picked up the wheel and dropped it again TINK TINK. right Ive found it. IT was a loose wheel weight that as the tyre went round slapped the side it the wheel under weight.

now go look for things, that you thought were right and check again. somehthing wrong somehwere. As I said to the mechanic when he told me youll have to live with it. NO way it didnt come frm the factory with that noise.

Gone over the car twice so far and checked as much as i know, even checked the front shocks, the body rubbers, swaybar transfer mounts, handbrake drum, rear bar and tow hitch, it is a definate clunk when i'm reversing out the drive and the left whell drop off the concrete you can feel and hear the clunk, and even driving in a straight line it clunks over the rough surface, at speed it isn't as noticable, it is very noticable when going slow offroad though:mad:

OK i have found a place that does a watts link replacement kit, that includes the bushes and centre bearing for $120, so when i can make sure it is the watts link this will be what i'll get.

Baz.

[4bee]

From your last description, to me, it sounds like a loose/worn/clapped out shocker fixing.

[Redback]

From your last description, to me, it sounds like a loose/worn/clapped out shocker fixing.

Just replaced my rear shocks, the holes were not elongated and looked OK, i replaced the old shocks because i thought that's what was causing the clunk, and even though the bushes were shagged it wasn't the cause.

Baz.

[Scouse]

ERR Ive got a D1 and no A frame and no it hasnt been modifid either. So not all d1s have them, depends on the year.

If you have a D1, then you must have an A frame ;) .

You won't have the load leveller (which is RR only) but the A frame will be there with the ball joint.

[muddydigger]

If you have a D1, then you must have an A frame ;) .

You won't have the load leveller (which is RR only) but the A frame will be there with the ball joint.


I know what the A frame is Had it on my Rangie. This car is a 1997 Discovery ES and it definatley does NOT have an A frame at all. It is stock standard from the factory too, so it hasnt been modified.

[discoII04]

Don't laugh at this, but check for a loose towbar. A few months ago on my '04 Disco, I also had a very similar noise to the one you describe, had the stealer look at it, they diagnosed a loose towbar assembly, I personally though the sucker was welded on. :o

What ever they tightened it fixed the problem - very surprised !

[PhilipA]

I know what the A frame is Had it on my Rangie. This car is a 1997 Discovery ES and it definatley does NOT have an A frame at all. It is stock standard from the factory too, so it hasnt been modified.

Gee your axle must move around a bit. Post a photo! LOL
But does it have a ball joint on the top LH of the diff?
Regards PhilipA

[Redback]

Checked the Watts link today, unbolted it from the diff and to my untrained eye looks OK, bushes look fine with no movement, the centre bearing has no movement either, i had to replace the left shock though, it was weeping fluid:mad:

So i'm back to square one:(

I will check for a loose towbar tomorrow, never even crossed my mind to look at this:eek:

Any other ideas fellas:confused:

[Slunnie]

Baz, it may very well be the swaybar bushes when the swaybar mounts to the chassis. When these wear they knock around a lot. They don't wear through, the swaybar just gets sloppy causing the clunking. I repalced mine at about 70,000km after they were driving me insane. I found that when on uneven ground and particularly when changing direction that it would clunk. hope this helps.

[Redback]

Baz, it may very well be the swaybar bushes when the swaybar mounts to the chassis. When these wear they knock around a lot. They don't wear through, the swaybar just gets sloppy causing the clunking. I repalced mine at about 70,000km after they were driving me insane. I found that when on uneven ground and particularly when changing direction that it would clunk. hope this helps.

Hey Simon, i pulled the swaybars off today and it's still there, tried to find it standing outside the car, only one thing wrong with that, you can't hear it from outside, only from inside.

It's more that you can feel it more than hear it:mad:

I had Kerry move the car up and down the gutter outside and i looked under the car, the Watts link seemed to have some movement and it seemed to coinside with the clunk.

Only thing left now:mad:

[Slunnie]

Gday Baz, hopefully thats what it'll be then. Its not a hard job, just a PITA. I've had to do the bushes in the watts link already with mine.

[justinc]

If your D2 has had a fair bit of off road etc, I would go around and tighten ALL the body mounting bolts, and check the bracketry for cracks. The D1 has heavier duty body mount bracketry and they break regularly. I had a clunk in a D1 once that was worse inside the vehicle than outside, after tightening all the usual suspension and steering suspects it was still there. After that I noticed some rusty powdery deposits around a few of the body mountings, which I duly tightened up ( Almost all required this) and that was the end of not only the clunk but some other little squeaks etc from the interior and dash disappeared too.

Just because these things have a decent chassis doesen't mean they don't flex it a bit.


JC

[willvine]

:) Hello all, I have had all of the above problems. Replaced all bushes, got rid airbag suspension raised 2 inches fitted coils front and rear fitted billies. but still the clunking noise. not happy jan!!!!!. The noise in the end was comming from the ACE system wherethe ECU does a self diagnostic thing where it closes the hydraulic valves momentarily therefore making a clunk very anoying but harmless. because the valves are attatched to the chassies the noise is amplified into the cabin. hence not being able to pin point the noise on the outside. this clunk has been reconised as a factory recall so if your disco has sliped under the radar have it checked.. See the
Rave CD for amo to take to your repairer. If you dont have ACE then Check the Watts link for movement. if you still have the noise check for a stray log trying to hitch a ride home ..... see photo. long story but i made it home like that.:)

[Redback]

:) Hello all, I have had all of the above problems. Replaced all bushes, got rid airbag suspension raised 2 inches fitted coils front and rear fitted billies. but still the clunking noise. not happy jan!!!!!. The noise in the end was comming from the ACE system wherethe ECU does a self diagnostic thing where it closes the hydraulic valves momentarily therefore making a clunk very anoying but harmless. because the valves are attatched to the chassies the noise is amplified into the cabin. hence not being able to pin point the noise on the outside. this clunk has been reconised as a factory recall so if your disco has sliped under the radar have it checked.. See the
Rave CD for amo to take to your repairer. If you dont have ACE then Check the Watts link for movement. if you still have the noise check for a stray log trying to hitch a ride home ..... see photo. long story but i made it home like that.:)


Errr what photo:confused:

Don't have ACE all coil, i checked for just about everything, it is a thing that has been getting worse over a fairly long time, i thought it was the shock bushes, but after replacing the shocks it was still there:mad:

I need a hoist to see properly.

Baz.

[willvine]

photo is in the gallery under login name posted it last night, not shure how to stick it to the forum. enjoy.

[cafaas]

I have also had a clunk (mainly heard after accelerating from a standing start). Every year or so it re-appears. After changing shocks and many other fixes, turned out it was my "engine mounts", the bolts seem to need tightening every so often (and they are very tight).
It's doing it again right now and the bolts are as tight as they can be. It seems my engine mount "rubbers" are worn, so will get them replaced.
Hope this turns out to be your problem.:eek:

[tombraider]

ERR Ive got a D1 and no A frame and no it hasnt been modifid either. So not all d1s have them, depends on the year.



Care to explain what your D1 has then? Pics perhaps?

[incisor]

interested in seeing this one myself.....

[Scouse]

Care to explain what your D1 has then? Pics perhaps?Good luck :twisted:.
PhilipA asked for a photo 2 weeks ago !!

[Slunnie]

I think he found the A-frame. :lol2:

[Redback]

All is fine in the Redback Disco again:D

I put a 2nd hand Watts link in this arvo and even with Kerrys help managed to do it in just under an hour and a half:whistling::whistling: only kidding, her help was much appreciated.:D

So next is the new bushes for my old one as soon as they arrive, to keep as a spare:thumbsup::beer::beer:

Baz.

[PhilipA]

Redback, If that is a photo of your silver Disco, with the red headed lady sitting in the passenger seat titled Appin day Redback , It looks awfullly like a Disco 11.
De PCD is de small one, De trailing arms are de Hockey sticks,

If de one with the garbage bag is also yours , de taillights are high Regards Philip A

[Scouse]

Redback, If that is a photo of your silver Disco, with the red headed lady sitting in the passenger seat titled Appin day Redback , It looks awfullly like a Disco 11.
De PCD is de small one, De trailing arms are de Hockey sticks,

If de one with the garbage bag is also yours , de taillights are high Regards Philip AIt's not Redback's Disco 2 we're querying, it's Muddydigger's Disco 1 ;).

[Graeme]

ive got a shocking doublr clunk coming from middle to front rhs
every time i back off the throttle over 50klm
d2 80k on the clock drive shafts and unis look ok and no play
anyone got any ideas

The Double Cardin joint on the front tailshaft is a prime suspect. It can be deceptive and appear to be in good condition.

[Redback]

Redback, If that is a photo of your silver Disco, with the red headed lady sitting in the passenger seat titled Appin day Redback , It looks awfullly like a Disco 11.
De PCD is de small one, De trailing arms are de Hockey sticks,

If de one with the garbage bag is also yours , de taillights are high Regards Philip A

Yep that's me and yes it's a DII, but your confusing me with Muddigger and his D1 that doesn't have an A Bar:eek:

From what i hear, they are supposed too;)

Baz.

[PhilipA]

Soory mate , I ended up totally confused and went looking for photos in the gallery, based on the postingthat there were photos in the gallery and so on.
Regards Philip A