The “clonking” from the rear nearside of this car is driving me mad. To all the world it sounds like a suspension or loose exhaust noise.

So far I have climbed underneath the car twice and could see nothing loose or broken. Taken it to a trusted local mechanic and a local tyre/exhaust centre. They both checked exhaust, exhaust mounts, springs, suspension, shockers etc. but could not find anything either. They both pronounce the car safe.

I have taken EVERYTHING out the back of the car that was not fitted by FIAT (even the spare wheel and tool-kit) and it made no difference. Checked the rear seat is firmly attached and the seat upright isn’t rattling. I’ve also wrapped the door strike plates in insulation tape as per advice on this site and greased up the rear suspension and springs.

The only thing I found was the aerial had come loose and could make a “bonking” noise. Fitted a rubber ring on it and tightened it and that stopped that.

The noise rarely happens when it’s just me in the car. Only when I go over a bump in the road is it audible. But add a front-seat passenger (especially a heavy one) and it becomes more noticeable. Then add a week’s heavy shopping in the boot and it drives you potty. It’s there all the time unless the road is brand-new smooth.

Car is a 1.4 petrol Active 2009 very low mileage

Any ideas or similar experiences PLEASE

Drop links?

Thanks JW
Drop links on the rear?

fiat_freak said:

Thanks JW
Drop links on the rear?

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its likely to be your rear bush or the shock has dried out.

Reuuk said:

its likely to be your rear bush or the shock has dried out.

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...agree with shock on rear has dried out. Will not impact if just normal driving with one person in the car but add a couple more people and some bumps and sleeping policemen and shock will actually compress and expand when needed. If it is dry then metal hitting metal or similar. Have you tried bouncing each rear corner of the car to try and see if the noise occurs.

Mind you I could be talking rubbish......

..or ar any of the shocks actually loose and moving around. Check all brake caliper and disk bolts to ensure they are all tight as well and it's not the caliper, disk, or disk fame clonking around.

Can you swap the shox from side to side and see if that changes the sound and where it's coming from

Thanks to all for the suggestions

Only bush in the back (apart from shox) is a zonking great rubber bush that replaces Fiat's normal trailing arm arrangement. That seems OK but have greased it to hell and back "just in case"

Shox passed all tested at both garages (jumping up and down on them as you describe) and seem tight, but will take suggestion of dry shock on board and might just change them even though they haven't done 20K miles yet (desperation setting in !!)

Back brakes are drum not discs and calipers

:bang:

basics first:
Remove anything from the boot, you might have something loose in the tire well.
Also fold the back sears and then, make sure they catch the lock; you can add some tape on the "lock ring"(the fixed part of the back seats locking mechanism)...that has cured mysterious noises for me in the past.

Yes had done all those things Aurick.
Thanks

I had a similar noise when I first got my GP. It developed into a rattling noise. Turned out my shocker strut mount hole was off centre and was causing the shocker to squeak.

Thanks for all the helpful replies
Dodgy shocker certainly comes out favourite, so am arranging for local garage to replace both rears and will let you all know the outcome.
Cheers

Can you record the noise ?

fiat_freak said:

Thanks for all the helpful replies

Dodgy shocker certainly comes out favourite, so am arranging for local garage to replace both rears and will let you all know the outcome.

Cheers

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That was going to be my initial plan. I had a friend who is a mechanic take a look and he told me it was the mount for the shocker and not the shocker themselves. Check this first don't waste money!

The collective wisdom of you guys was spot on

Had a new pair of Sachs shock absorbers fitted on the rear this morning and ....bliss. Quiet as a lamb

Many thanks to all

Ricky

fiat_freak said:

The collective wisdom of you guys was spot on

Had a new pair of Sachs shock absorbers fitted on the rear this morning and ....bliss. Quiet as a lamb

Many thanks to all

Ricky

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Glad it's sorted. Only reason I said drop links was I had a similar noise which I would've put money on being from the rear. Turned out it was the drop links at the front. They too make a clonking sound.

Another common one is the rear spring rubbers when it gets cold gets hard and squeaks

on a wet day they go quiet as the spray lubricates them


strip with rebuilding smeared with silicone grease cures it

Andy Monty said:

Another common one is the rear spring rubbers when it gets cold gets hard and squeaks

on a wet day they go quiet as the spray lubricates them


strip with rebuilding smeared with silicone grease cures it

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Yup that can cause noise. Another one is handbrake cable rubber mounts. :bang: