How long did your rear suspension last?

[mookieit]

So I am planning to look into my passenger rear suspension due to some clunking.

I am at 130K miles and the only thing I changed is the struts 20K miles ago.

I am thinking if I should just simply change all components like knuckle, all links, etc.

Basically everything that has bushings, would that be a waste?

I am not confident enough to change only the bushings, given I need to use a press and freeze the bushings.

Asking cause since I have so many miles mabey it would be a good idea.

How long did your rear suspension part last?

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[icecreamtruckz]

I would have to believe with that many miles, all of the bushings need love. And if they don’t now, they will. If it was me and I was planning on keeping the car, I would just get it all done at once. Bushings break down by the very nature of their construction. You may not even realize how badly they are degraded until you get all new ones and the rear end feels better.

It is a nightmare removing and replacing them, so up to you if the headache saved by buying the assemblies is worth it. Probably is.

 

[lo-fi]

A complete bushing refresh would do wonders for how your car feels. On another car I own that crossed over the 100k mark I did just that. Refreshed every single rubber bushing, ball joint, mounts, tie rods, etc. The difference was incredible. Tightened up everything and made it feel like a brand new car.

 

[GTP]

Maybe the rear spring rubber isolators. They get worn through and then you have the spring ends hitting the metal mounts/perches.

You can do some troubleshooting for free, especially if the clunking sound occurs while slowly driving around your neighborhood. You can disconnect (and tie up) your sway bar. Or just disconnect one side at a time. You can remove a rear shock, one at a time.

 

[Johnny maverick]

Maybe the rear spring rubber isolators. They get worn through and then you have the spring ends hitting the metal mounts/perches.

You can do some troubleshooting for free, especially if the clunking sound occurs while slowly driving around your neighborhood. You can disconnect (and tie up) your sway bar. Or just disconnect one side at a time. You can remove a rear shock, one at a time.

I bought a Chassis ear just for this reason.

 

[mookieit]

I bought a Chassis ear just for this reason.

Interesting, never heard about this tool. Looking into it

 

[Johnny maverick]

Interesting, never heard about this tool. Looking into it

Amazon.com

 

[Sparky1337]

I’ve found age will always do more damage than miles.

That being said, how you use the car will also dictate replacement.

When I was driving 50,000 miles a year in my GTI I replaced the struts/shocks every 100,000. Honestly they were still good, but I liked changes and couldn’t keep it the same.

My other cars, usually after 10 years. Eventually the seals leak etc. Motor mounts, bushings, etc if they were 10-15 years old I usually replaced everything.

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