Harsh thud from rear suspension

[wil892]

Hi

My MOT is coming up just after christmas, and I've noticed the car is giving a thud (goes through the cabin) from the rear suspension when it goes over a pot hole or something. I'm not sure if this is normal, but it sounds like the sound that was coming from a mk4 i've driven where the axle bushes were dead. The car doesn't sag at the back, but i've noticed it does go down more at the back with people in than it should.
I think the bump stops are kind of broken as well, however according to VW history it had new shocks in 2005 at 130,000, its done 167,000 now.
Any idea what is causing this?

Thanks
Will

[Mitching]

Could be something as perished rubber exhaust mounts?
Mine went and everythime I went over a bump the exhaust bounced up and knocked the car.

[Ben Lessani]

Could be...

Rear bear bushes
Exhaust knocking on rear beam
Failed shock
Worn top mounts

Wiggle, push, pull the exhaust to check that.
Replace the top mounts (cheap) to check those.

[cняis]

our *cough* mk3 bangs at the rear when pulling away hard. as it happens the top mount bushes are fubar'd on one side.

mk3 suspension uses a lot of the same components & setup 

my mk2 had broken rear beam bushes and that never banged, it just wandered all over the road  bloody dangerous!