Cadillac Repair: Shock absorber noise, air struts, shock absorber

Question
I had recently changed the rear air-struts on my 86 Caddy coupe deville. Everything is tight but I have a noise that sound like the shocks are loose when you drive over a bump or pot hole. Any ideas what is making the noise? The bolts are new but I reused the original upper mounts.
      Thank You

Answer
Hi Dave, If this is the original strut mount and ball joint that came with the car then there was a bulletin that says the noise could be from eithor one. The bulletin number is T85-79A group 3D corp #613401. If this just happened after replacing the struts and everything is tight I would change the strut mounts first. They use a differant design and you will have to drill out the bolt holes in the body bigger to accomodate the bigger bolt diameter. Struts themselves have been known to make noise. Maybe bounceing the car you can determine which side is the culpret and look closer at that strut. Otherwise drive such that you isolate each side. Another bulletin says that balljoints that are dry or low on grease will make this noise. Did you lube the rear tie rods and ball joints or do they seem loose when the rear tire is off the ground and you try to wiggle it? You might have to remove the nut and remove the balljoint stud from the control arm to grease the joint and move the joint so there is grease all around the ball and socket inside. Hope that solves the noise problem. Bill