I was rear-ended first week of July and just got my car out of the shop yesterday. All sounded and felt good all day. Then this morning I went to a shopping center and over a speed bump. I drove over at a slow-moderate speed and heard something hit/rub when the rear suspension crossed over the bump.

We drove the car to an empty parking lot we found that had speed bumps. I had my buddy drive over the bumps while I crawled/snaked behind it and I did not see anything touching the bump, but still heard the obvious noise.

I got home, put the car on jacks (changed the oil as well), and inspected the rear suspension. The accident I was in did most of the damage to the rear passenger side, where the shop fixed, and where this noise is coming from. I tried to compare both sides of the suspension (rear-left and rear-right) and the only difference I can see is the connection between the sway bar and the endlinks. I THINK that the endlink and the sway bar are touching when the tire goes over a bump, but I am not quite sure. I am heading back to the shop tomorrow, but wanted to see if anyone here had an opinion or idea. I am attaching some pics of the area I have in question. I feel I don't know enough about suspensions to be able to look at these pictures and notice any wrongs.

rear-left side with original configuration


rear-right side with new fixed configuation


rear-right side close up

 

I'm not 100% sure, but it looks like the endlink is on backwards...

 

x2, that's what I see.

 

yea its definitely backwards, it should be on the other side towards the wheel. I guess it could be binding causing the sound.

 

x3 it's definitely on the wrong side of the sway bar.

had to edit, i meant the endlink top is on the wrong side where it connects to the sway bar...

swap to the other side and tighten it down (service manual calls for 32ft-lbs, if you're using a torque wrench) Here's a quote from the Service Manual:

"------------------------------------------
6. INSTALL REAR STABILIZER LINK ASSY RH
(a) Install the rear stabilizer link assy RH with the 2 nuts.
Torque: 44 N-m (32 ft-lbf)
HINT:
If the ball joint turns together with the nut, use a hexagon (5 mm)
wrench to hold the stud
------------------------------------------"

 

Well I took it back to the bodyshop and fixed the endlink-swaybar connection as suggested. This morning came to work and went over speed bumps at a really slow speed (as slow as possible) and no noise. However, I tried the next bump at a moderate speed (for travelling over a speed bump) and still heard the same clunk noise.

Got under the car and checked the sway bar. I couldn't shake or move it, so it was secure. Same with endlinks and swaybar bushings. I have no clue what is making the noise and am tempted to take it to Scion today and have them look at it. Any ideas? I THINK that maybe they didn't tighten the sway bar bushings or endlink connection tight enough. I am going to grab a torque wrench and verify everything today after work because I have no clue what else could be causing this.

 

Have the bodyshop check all of the bolts on the entire rear suspension... something must be loose... have them tighten and check the torque on EVERYTHING from the top of the coilover mounts in the trunk area all the way down to the lugnuts... don't let the shop get away with doing a shoddy job...

 

Check your trunk too, maybe it's as simple as a loose jack, jack handle or spare?