Hey everyone. I've got a 2000 Protege ES with 250,000 miles and 100% stock suspension all around* that developed a noise I can hardly describe a couple years ago from the rear end... This noise sounds like a banging/knocking/rattling of something which seems to reverberate through the entire car. Faster you go, the more intense/louder it becomes and seems to be generated by suspension movement across bumpy pavement. Threw my gopro on the inside of the trunk lid to try and capture this sound but you couldn't really hear it, shockingly.
Placed the body on jack stands and crawled under the rear inspecting everything I can see. Grabbed the struts and shook the car, checked wheels for wobble, inspected all bushings on the control arms.. Removed absolutely EVERY possible item from the trunk, searched for anything that could have fallen into a 'hidden' area of the trunk... I just can't find what the hell is making this noise and it's literally affecting my mood / mental state after driving the vehicle. Any long trips over about 30 minutes gives me a giant migraine so I have GOT to figure this out!
I need to install the replacement sway bar end links, and should probably look into replacement of the struts and maybe springs but I refuse to just throw money at the car to try and solve the noise.. Spent a few hours on the internet looking for someone else who has this noise and came up with nothing.. Any help / suggestions someone can give me would be MORE than appreciated. Help me love my protege again!
Placed the body on jack stands and crawled under the rear inspecting everything I can see. Grabbed the struts and shook the car, checked wheels for wobble, inspected all bushings on the control arms.. Removed absolutely EVERY possible item from the trunk, searched for anything that could have fallen into a 'hidden' area of the trunk... I just can't find what the hell is making this noise and it's literally affecting my mood / mental state after driving the vehicle. Any long trips over about 30 minutes gives me a giant migraine so I have GOT to figure this out!
- Rear Wheel bearings have ~50,000 miles
- Rear sway bar end links failed and have been removed, swaybar still present
- Rear passenger upper strut mount rusted through, replaced and did not change noise
I need to install the replacement sway bar end links, and should probably look into replacement of the struts and maybe springs but I refuse to just throw money at the car to try and solve the noise.. Spent a few hours on the internet looking for someone else who has this noise and came up with nothing.. Any help / suggestions someone can give me would be MORE than appreciated. Help me love my protege again!