Every time I drive my 2.6 very slowly over badly  pitted/rutted roads the rear of the car seems to groan/knock.

It does not affect the way the car drives ........but it is annoying.

My ex-plod 3.2 estate made  exactly the same noise. I never did find out the cause. Is it a case of "they all do that Sir?"

Any ideas please?

Springs and subframe bushes? :-/

Might also be tailgate rubbing against its seals as the body flexes.

:y

Opti wrote on 22. Mar 2011 at 19:07:

Every time I drive my 2.6 very slowly over badly  pitted/rutted roads the rear of the car seems to groan/knock. It does not affect the way the car drives ........but it is annoying. My ex-plod 3.2 estate made  exactly the same noise. I never did find out the cause. Is it a case of "they all do that Sir?" Any ideas please?

Mine was making both those noises until a month ago when I changed the subframe bushes. That stopped the creaking :y

The clunking continued though so I changed the dampers on Saturday.... peace at last :)

When I got the old shock absorbers off I discovered that one had rusted through from the outside  :-? there was hardly any oil left in it and oil bubbled through the rust hole when I tried moving it but the outside wasn't wet at all. Wierd.

"Groaning noise?"

Get this a lot, immediately after discovering/being told by the missus that something else needs fixing on these daft barges wonderful cars.

The noise emanates from me, not the car though.  ::)

Hope you find/fix the problem soon, sorry I was no help.  :-[

Andy H wrote on 22. Mar 2011 at 21:28:

Opti wrote on 22. Mar 2011 at 19:07: Every time I drive my 2.6 very slowly over badly  pitted/rutted roads the rear of the car seems to groan/knock. It does not affect the way the car drives ........but it is annoying. My ex-plod 3.2 estate made  exactly the same noise. I never did find out the cause. Is it a case of "they all do that Sir?" Any ideas please? Mine was making both those noises until a month ago when I changed the subframe bushes. That stopped the creaking :y The clunking continued though so I changed the dampers on Saturday.... peace at last :) When I got the old shock absorbers off I discovered that one had rusted through from the outside  :-? there was hardly any oil left in it and oil bubbled through the rust hole when I tried moving it but the outside wasn't wet at all. Wierd.

Inexpensive and easy DIY fix?.......please say yes...... :y

Rear donut bushes are around £40 a pair..best place is AllgermanParts...website details aon forum and the guy to speak with is Jason.

Shocks are dependant on if car is fitted with self levelling or not...former are around £150 a pair on trade card,but standards are considerably less.

So for peace of mind and no more noises expect worst case of £200..plus your time to replace.

You could always let STMO out. :D :D :D :-X

The exhaust on my 2.6 knocks every now and again because it's a little too close to the body half way along, night be the same on yours

Opti wrote on 23. Mar 2011 at 11:49:

Andy H wrote on 22. Mar 2011 at 21:28: Opti wrote on 22. Mar 2011 at 19:07: Every time I drive my 2.6 very slowly over badly  pitted/rutted roads the rear of the car seems to groan/knock. It does not affect the way the car drives ........but it is annoying. My ex-plod 3.2 estate made  exactly the same noise. I never did find out the cause. Is it a case of "they all do that Sir?" Any ideas please? Mine was making both those noises until a month ago when I changed the subframe bushes. That stopped the creaking :y The clunking continued though so I changed the dampers on Saturday.... peace at last :) When I got the old shock absorbers off I discovered that one had rusted through from the outside  :-? there was hardly any oil left in it and oil bubbled through the rust hole when I tried moving it but the outside wasn't wet at all. Wierd. Inexpensive and easy DIY fix?.......please say yes...... :y

As posted by Amba: I got Lemforder bushes from AllgermanParts for about £40 and self levelling rear dampers from andyc at £150 (TC price).

The dampers were easy to fit  :y fitting the donut bushes was 'character forming'  :D