Odd thumping under right rear side
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Junior User
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From: Santa Clara, California
Odd thumping under right rear side
Road bumps produce a thumping noise under the middle seat floor bracket that is just forward of the right rear wheel. We've been searching for the cause for about a year and nothing looks wrong. Today I removed the right rear panel but it definately isn't in that or the door panel.
Directly under where we hear the thumping are two suspension objects with rubber grommets in the connection mechanism. The grommets look fine and two mechanics have looked at them. I've replaced the rear shocks twice but no change. The brakes were recently checked and the muffler seems secure. Really not much else under there!
Any ideas?? Just replace the grommets and hope for the best?
- jim
96 Aerostar 192K 3 liter XLT
Directly under where we hear the thumping are two suspension objects with rubber grommets in the connection mechanism. The grommets look fine and two mechanics have looked at them. I've replaced the rear shocks twice but no change. The brakes were recently checked and the muffler seems secure. Really not much else under there!
Any ideas?? Just replace the grommets and hope for the best?
- jim
96 Aerostar 192K 3 liter XLT
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Junior User
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From: Santa Clara, California
We rarely have the seats in but thanks for the suggestion. Mountain bikes go in the back, and we sleep there on long trips. I have pulled on those rods that the seats lock to but they seem solidly in place.
The thumping is loud and annoying. It needs to get fixed.
- jim
The thumping is loud and annoying. It needs to get fixed.
- jim
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Junior User
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From: Santa Clara, California
I and two mechanics, at different times, grapped the muffler and tried moving it while the van was on a rack. It really seems solid. The thumping occurs even at very low speeds so moving the muffler by hand should work. By the way, its the original muffler. Amazing.
- jim
- jim
Post Fiend
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From: Washington state
check tailpipe for clearance to body just where the pipe starts to curve back down behind rear axle....if exhaust has ever been worked on-pipe cut for new flex, there may not be enough clearance between pipe and steel lip that sticks out from body....needs 2" minimum or will bounce and hit
excuse the pun, but it makes a "muffled" banging
excuse the pun, but it makes a "muffled" banging
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Junior User
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Thanks 96_4wdr. I'll check that clearance. Yep, muffled banging :-) The exhaust hasn't been touched but that van has been on a lot of rough roads. I shook the tail pipe when it was on the rack and it seemed fine but I'll check again.
- jim
- jim
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Post Fiend
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also take a look at the heat shield on the muffler and cats...they rust and welds break....bang and rattle until they fall off...
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[QUOTE=jmpreston]I've replaced the rear shocks twice but no change.[QUOTE] I had a similar noise problem. It was the upper shock mounting bolt. Seemed nice and tight but cranking it down just a little more cured the knocking.
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Found it!
FOUND IT! I lifted and dropped the vehicle a bit from the right rear wheel well and heard the sound. So I got my wife to do the lifting and dropping when I was under it. (Yeah, no comments.) The top of the shock is loose around the bolt and making a thumping noise. It seems the hole / bushing is too big. I'll deal with it in the morning. It took two years to find that problem. Hopefully there are enough key words in this thread so others who search for the problem and solution can find it.
After I wrote the above I see aerocolorado's post. It would have saved me a few hours at the mechanic's today if I knew about it. For some reason the last two posts to this thread did not trigger the auto email notification but all the others did. They aren't in my deleted or junk email folders either. I've had this problem on this forum before. Frustrating.
I would like to add a big thank you to everyone who helped!
- jim
After I wrote the above I see aerocolorado's post. It would have saved me a few hours at the mechanic's today if I knew about it. For some reason the last two posts to this thread did not trigger the auto email notification but all the others did. They aren't in my deleted or junk email folders either. I've had this problem on this forum before. Frustrating.
I would like to add a big thank you to everyone who helped!
- jim
Last edited by jmpreston; Jan 24, 2006 at 09:42 PM. Reason: Add a big thank you!
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Junior User
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From: Santa Clara, California
I should have posted this long ago but just bumped into my old thread. The noise was the right side sliding door. My wife got T-boned in an intersection and that smashed the door but cured the noise.
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Minor crash but totaled the door. A few months later she was rear-ended at a stop light and that damaged front and rear bumpers. So our 96 Aero with 255k miles is her commute car and not worth fixing up. Still runs great though!
Wow, six years already!
jim
Wow, six years already!
jim
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Yeah, that is why I didn't fix up the 96 Aero. I was a Mayanist and could read their calendar :-)
Actually, all that happens is another Bactun starts. No biggee.
Not seeing many Aeros on the roads in California anymore. Sadly they are disappearing but there isn't anything to replace them.
Actually, all that happens is another Bactun starts. No biggee.
Not seeing many Aeros on the roads in California anymore. Sadly they are disappearing but there isn't anything to replace them.