QuestionQUESTION: I have a 1973 TR-6 that has been completely frame-off restored, and for a while now have been experiencing a strange clunking noise in the rear when corning sharp turns with some speed. It almost seems like the weight in the rear of the car is shifting oh so slightly when I get into a hard mountainous turn with some speed (something I do enjoy doing). I am worried that it may be something serious that could lead to a future accident. Any ideas?
ANSWER: TR6 differential mounts are notorious for breaking; mine did that. Another option is bad ujoints. Another option is the rear hub. I'd look to see if the two rear u-joint yokes have been hitting something in the rear suspension; that may point to what is wrong, or where you don't have enough clearance.
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QUESTION: Wise advice, as I agree the items you mentioned are the proverbial "weak link" for the TR-6. Unfortunately or fortunately the components you listed seem to be in good shape. I think I misled you using the term "clunk", it is more of a sudden, noticeable weight shift in the rear of the car...A sudden unloading/transfer of weight from the inside side of the turn to the outside side of the turn the car is turning (only when making semi-aggressive turns...where weight loading and unloading occurs). It is quite unnerving, as you can really feel it, makes me wonder what is going to really let loose and send me over the edge of the road. I am still inspecting the trailing arms, where they attach and the bushings. Because the only thing I can think of is that one of the arms may be shifting ever so slightly, or possibly the car is shifting on the coil spring. Certainly open for any ideas or thoughts as I have not yet found the culprit.
AnswerAnother is to check to see if your spring is broken or cracked. There isn't any other parts back there, other than the shock, that I think could be the cause.
Do you have the rubber cones on the rear trailing arms? are there marks that tell you if it is making contact (bottoming out)
I'd also check the springs & shocks in the front; another thought may be that something is letting lose in the front, and its causing a greater than normal transfer of weight to the diagonal rear..
Another thought is does this happen with lefts, rights, or both. Sometimes it might indicate a problem with wheel bearings...
I'm not sure I can be much help; I'd focus on trying to identify something making contact as a start.
see if you can make the noise when the car is stationary. See if you can jack up one rear corner very high and. Jump up & down on each corner agressively, Grabbing the rear bumper and "twisting" the car from side to side. combinations of the above. Anything to simulate the motion the car is making when it makes the noise.
