Clunking noise from rear when accelerating from a stop

dg28182

Founding Member
Aug 27, 2002
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Melbourne, FL
Pretty much what the topic says.. When I'm at a dead stop or just barely moving, something makes a clunking noise in the rear end of the car. It just about always seems to be 3 clunks, one right after the other.
Anyone have any ideas?
 
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Could be a bad diff, could be a bad U joint. I would check for play in the u joint first (but with three clunks, its doesn't sound likely), if thats the case get an aluminum drive shaft. If that not the case I would have someone watch to see if both tires spin wheel you dump the clutch. If not, you're probably in for an expensive fix. Maybe that clunking isn't so bad after all :D
 
dg28182 said:
Pretty much what the topic says.. When I'm at a dead stop or just barely moving, something makes a clunking noise in the rear end of the car. It just about always seems to be 3 clunks, one right after the other.
Anyone have any ideas?

Probably too easy but have you checked to make sure your wheel lugs are tight?
 
Joe is prob. right, U joint. cheap fix. Do this if you can. Jack the rear end of the car up on flat ground with a floor jack, lift rear end from under pumkin. put car in neutral. no e brake, block front wheels. get it high enough so both wheels off ground get someone who can watch where the driveshaft connects to the rear end diff. spin one of the wheels by the tire and see if you can replicate sound. 100 bucks says its your u joints. That is where the prblem is. If not maybe a quad shock mount.
 
Mine was doing that at one time and I couldn't figure out what it was for the life of me. Then one day at the strip my buddy noticed on the video he was taking that only one tire was spinning. I replaced the traction-loc unit and never heard the clunking again. I would do what no_rice said and check to see if you are a one wheel wonder or not. Easy thing to check. Good luck! Let us know when you finger it out.
 
The best thing I can do right now is make an appointment at the local shop here that we all go to ( 80% of our Mustang club..) and let the owner take a look at it. That's going to cost some cash tho...
I have access to ramps.. just changed my oil this morning. I just don't know what to look for.