knocking noise from rear of car

[rheady]

Right before you say do a search I've had the car checked today and its not the rear bushes or the suspension top mounts or the exhaust so what the F@@k can it be. If my shocks were on the way out would they make this noise. There is no noise when my kids are in the back but when I'm driving into work with a full car you can hear the noise and it sound terrible.

Can someone give me some areas to have a look at if its not the shocks.

Steve

[topher]

get someone to jump up and down in the boot while you're on your knees with a torch... not exactly the most scientific answer i've ever given on here but it's the best i got if you've checked the obvious ones

[rheady]

Think I might get a second opinion on the rear bushes though to be on the safe side. I'll try your suggestion though Toph. Do you think the rear shocks would make this noise if they were on their last legs. The roads inside the steelworks where I work are crap so the noise really gets on my nerves.

[topher]

how well did you check the axle bushes? if it only happens with your kids in the back/loaded up they might not be obvious, you ideally want the car up in the air and lever a pry bar in there to check for movement

might sound too obvious but did you check for a cracked or broken spring? i cant see why a dodgy shock would knock unless it was seized or bottoming out, which you'd feel more than hear. When you're done jumping in the boot pop the wheel off and have a look

[rheady]

I left the car at the garage so they told me they checked the bushes and they said the springs were OK. Thinks I'll get my brother to give me a hand and have a look over it again. Would the movement be side to side or up and down with the bushes or both.

[The Dave]

Spare wheel? lol I've noticed mine clonks on the odd bump, seems be my spare wheel moving a bit. Got powerflex bushes on the back of mine and lowered about 55-60mm so quite low.