Knocking in rear axle

[jonwad]

Ok I’ve searched the forums and found nothing...
I have a 1995 Grand Voyager with a knocking in the rear end when the rear end shifts it's weight while turning in either direction. I did a complete rear brake job and replaced the wheel bearings. The knock was there before I did the new bearings and brakes.. I don’t see any wear in the leaf spring shackles, the shocks are about 7 years old but I only driven 10,000 miles. It seems that when it's raining and the undercarriage is wet the knocking disappears..

Does anyone have any ideas????
thanks for any and all ideas..

Jonwad

[jpb53]

There is a torque tube inside the axle. You will have to jack the van up to see it. It is round and about an inch or more in diameter and goes from side to side. Ck the welds at each end.

[mishalah]

That, and these vans are notorious for the clunking sound when the gas shifts in the tank. Really.

[jonwad]

How do I check the torque tube? Do I have to remove everything including the spindle??

[jpb53]

No. Jack it up and look at it from the bottom.

[Mbriggs]

Also be sure to check that the bolts that hold the bottom of the shocks to the axle are tight. I spent a ton of time time trying to locate a loud rattle, only to find that both bolts were loose.

[mrtinker]

We had a similiar problem a few years ago with our van too. It turned out to be the drivers side shock absorber in the rear of the van. We kept thinking that the seat lock mechanism's were loose or something.

Hope this helps!

[mrtinker]

Oh yea, forgot something.... there were some "rubber bumpers" under there too that I replaced when we were having this problem. I think they were for when the shocks/springs bottom out and are comming too close to the rear axle. Just one screw held each one on and both were down to nothing.... I had to get them from the dealer though, local stores didn't have them.