how can you tell if your shock mounts are taking a crapper on you?

[brendan85]

I don't think its the shocks themselves, but its probably the mounts.. SEVERE case of clunking from the rear when over bumps and cracks in the road. sounds like its coming from beneath the towers, can hear clear as day when you open the trunk. my little weekend project.

ps:

pelicanparts.com sure has a weird way of shipping.. i ordered 2 mounts, 10 nuts/bolts, the plate, and recommended a gasket as well (why does it need a gasket?).. but anyways, i received ONE nut in the mail today (probably cost $5 to ship that considering the size of the box) LOL.. and the rest should arrive tomorrow hopefully, according to fedex. why would you just send ONE nut? lol

[gripracer]

lolwut on the one nut.

they are taking a crapper. good thing you are fixing them.

[jijacob]

You can pull the carpet out on one side and take a look. Another option would be to unbolt one of the shocks, and then jack the car up to get a better look. You might have to get someone to pull down on the shock to keep it from expanding as you jack the car up. If the shocks are old it should be easy, and if they are new it will just take a little work.

[jonny290]

Just pull both carpets back and bounce on the rear end. If the top of the shock moves any perceptible amount relative to the mount, they're blown. Mine had about 1/4" of play.

[jijacob]

If you do end up doing any suspension work, a couple vendors sell shock mount reinforcements. Might want to consider doing them.

[CoLoMbIaNo]

check ebay. just picked up 2 BMW mounts for 30 bucks. if you got the originals replacement is a must.

[brendan85]

yeah i just went to pelicanparts, they had some for either $7 each or $15. i went with the $15 ones. everything was about $37 with shipping..

but on the note of my problem..
the shocks themselves do about a 1 1/2 bounce, maybe 2.. so they arent bad.. not a bouncy ride at all.. just some clunking, haha.. tad annoying.

[95RedBMWe36M50]

Lift the car up, grab the shocks and if you can move them horizontally within the mount, then the mount is bad. Just replaced my rear shock mounts with the same symptoms. Where the bolt on the shock extends up into the shock mount, there is a metal sleeve held in place by a piece of rubber. The the rubber is most likely destroyed allowing the shock and metal sleeve to move about freely within the mount. If you do not replace it, there is a good change of destroying the sheetmetal on the top of the tower.

Good luck

[brendan85]

Lift the car up, grab the shocks and if you can move them horizontally within the mount, then the mount is bad. Just replaced my rear shock mounts with the same symptoms. Where the bolt on the shock extends up into the shock mount, there is a metal sleeve held in place by a piece of rubber. The the rubber is most likely destroyed allowing the shock and metal sleeve to move about freely within the mount. If you do not replace it, there is a good change of destroying the sheetmetal on the top of the tower.

Good luck
what is that rubber piece called? cuz pelicanparts never recommended anything..

[wannaMMM]

what is that rubber piece called? cuz pelicanparts never recommended anything..

The rubber piece is the RSM. Is a metal bracket with a rubber bushing, so to speak in the middle. You have to tear the carpet out of the truck to gain access to them (horrible design IMO).

I had a clunk in my rear suspension and it was actually the shock itself. Still not sure why it was causing the noise. But I replaced the shock and all was good. Its a good idea to look around and check. If there are high miles on the suspension its a good chance they need to be replaced.

[brendan85]

replaced the mounts and a few misc parts under there, clunk is gone and rides smooth.. thanks for the input guys..