determining rear end noise

[hitnf]

Hi all,

We have a 2002 Mazda Protege 5, with around 85,000 km on it. Over the past few months we noticed a clunking noise while going over bumps at slower speed, let's say under ~40km/h. At least about 70 km/h we do not hear anything over bumps. These occurs from both sides of the car, as in driver and passenger side but the noise and intensity are different from each side.

Recently we have changed both the rear struts and it seems to have helped a little. We made sure everything was tight, by using the impact gun on the strut.

I have read '02 P5 Rear Rattle/Thunking' thread, and referred to the 'HOW TO: Protege 5 Strut and Sway Bar install' to change the struts which was great help. I have read in several places that the endlinks could be gone. But when we removed them they seemed to be fine, as in no boot was cracked or leaking. Could the endlinks still be on the way out?

Thank you very much for any help.

 

[BoostedPR5]

Did you replace the mounts at the same time?
Jack it up grab the sway bar and see if it moves, that'll eliminate that...

 

[SocialStealth]

Maybe your exhaust is rattling. Try having someone sit in the back and listen for the noise......

....I don't know why people laugh when I say that....my dad made me do it with his older cars (when I was younger and fit in the trunk)

 

[hitnf]

Hey sorry for the late reply,

BoostedPR5 - We didn't replace the mounts, we figured they were still in good shape. We have to try the sway bar you mentioned and will get back to you.

SocialStealth - lol at fitting in the trunk, we can look into.

Thank you very much