2015 Grand Caravan CLUNKING Rear Suspension | Coil Springs Shocks Bushings
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- Mid winter I got in the van with my wife and heard a lot of clunking noise from the back of the vehicle. "Do you hear that? What is that? How long has it been doing that?" She said, "I don't know, I usually just turn up the radio". LOL Now that's it's Spring time in Vermont, I finally have some time to investigate. This is what I found.
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Thanks for doing this great video. I couldn't find anywhere on how to change the rear coil springs on a Grand Caravan. I thought I was going to have to remove the rear track bar to get the coils out but looks like I don't have to. I replaced my front struts, sway bars, rear shocks and now with your video I'll be replacing my rear coil springs with new Moogs.
Your new shock bolts, unless they're stainless steel, are going to rust much quicker than the factory bolts (I know it's hard to believe). The factory bolts are actually treated....you'd never think they were seeing how rusted they get after a few years. Im in Ontario so I know all too well about this lol. Unfortunately I had to order my bolts from the dealership. For my 09 Grand Caravan the part number is 6507097AA for the hex head bolt ($5.91 each) and 6512602AA for the nut ($1.53 each). I think the part # is the same for most model years... you'd have to double check.
You have a new subscriber. Thanks!
Once you get done, your van should ride like new again :) Thanks for the heads up on the bolts! I forget what I bought but I will inspect them when I swap out my winter wheels for summer wheels. And thank you for the feedback and the sub!
I have a 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan with 105,000 miles, the clunking noise in the back of mine is just tools and stuff bouncing around, bro.
LOL! Yes that'll do it :)
Great video - job well done!! Subscribed!!
Thank you 🙏
Factory has the snubber on top and the cup on bottom.
Great videos, I’m surprised you don’t have more subscribers because the content is gold.
That is a very kind thing to say. Thank you my friend :)
This is the first video I've seen from you. Thanks for the great information and the positive energy! I'm a subscriber now!
Thank you Bill 🙏
Old vid, I know, but the top bolt in the rear shock is in a bracket held up with 4 bolts that are easily accessible. Once bracket is released shock removal easy peasy! I could not manage to get a wrench on the nut without removing the bracket. Try to work some PB or similar into the frame above the brackets to aid in the bolt removal,. I learned the hard way. Mine is a 13 and no coil over shocks
Ill check it out! I have new shocks delivered today. The Monroe's finally gave up the ghost.
If I were to upload a short video could you tell me if it's the same clunk? Seemingly smooth road with those crack fillings of tar it sounds like I'm on railroad tracks in my 2015 grand caravan. Almost everywhere sounds like tracks
I heard that they put wrong shocks on them new shocks have smaller top oart of shock. I never seen shocks with springs on them as mine don't on my GC as it has a rattle in right rear.
I have a 2016 Caravan that just had to have the shocks and struts replaced. ✌️
My entire suspension is almost new... this was unexpected.
Gonna head out do an inspection. Got the metal clunk. Happens intermittently on braking. Im thinking its a bushing, coil spring, or sway link. Brakes and calipers are new. I'll give updates.
Hope its a sway bar link. Easy fix! If it is, the sound usually sounds like its coming from up high in the dashboard area. if its sway its usually a deep low thud, if its strut its more of a faster rattle clunk. Check your calipers and wheel lugs too and of course other front suspension joints to make sure nothing is worn. Happy hunting. I look fwd to learning about what you discover!
There are noises in the back doors. You have to lubricate them with grease like your car. Your channel is very useful. Thank you, my friend, I am from Saudi Arabia🇸🇦❤️
Thank you for the kind words, my friend from Saudia Arabia!
Awesome video. I've been thinking i need to replace the rear springs on my 2016 with 80k miles. Seems the rear end is so harsh over bumps in the road... I towed a pop up with it a few years and assume its the culprit. Did you notice any vibration of the third row seats, going over bumps, prior to repairing...and if so, did the new springs make a difference?
Thank you!! Usually the springs don't cause a problem and they usually dont go bad very easily (not like old cars). But your shocks might be causing the rough ride. And if you have vibration in the rear, its possible shocks are the culprit. But you could have a wheel out of balance adding to the vibration.
How did you not get that antisieze all over you? Seriously thanks for the video
lol special effects!! lol using the little brush helps 😂
The enjoyment after the hard work of repairing your vehicle lol I myself experienced this
Its therapeutic almost! Thanks for sharing :)
Wow! Well done video! I have a 2015 Grand Caravan, 310,000 kms. Clunks both front and rear. Changed the new quick struts on the front, sway bar links (both sides) new rear shocks, new pads and rotors (front and back) and the steering rack. Still have a clunk intermittent on the front, turns and some bumps and usually stopping or taking off at the rear. Two different garages can't seem to find the problem. So, I have ordered new front sway bar bushings (since the sway bar links are new too) and will probably just go and buy a set of new rear springs.
Your videos give me hope! The van is top of the line, leather, everything I want, except the damn clunks!
Man I hope you find it! It sounds like the front must be sway bar bushings. In the rear, I did not make a video of it, but one of my rear trailing arm bushings ripped and let the rear axle arm bounce up against the frame rail. I had to press out the bushing and press in a new one. I made my own press out of steel I had laying around the garage and a little bending and welding. This is what the bushing looks like amzn.to/3Yk4Hao You'll get it fixed! :)
@darylwade2335 did you ever find the issue? I have a similar problem replace the front suspension rear suspension swaybar links, swaybar bushings. Still have a clunk.
Mine is clunking in front driver side
Is it a suspension noise or a clicking engine noise? I had a deep low frequency clunk on the front of mine, located down low, and it was a bad sway bar bushing. Then I had a clunk up high, sounded like in the dashboard almost, and it was the sway bar end links. Then a faster slightly higher frequency clunk and it was the struts.
How many miles have you gotten out of those shocks without issue? I see so many mixed reviews on them. Was there an up or down on them too? You'd think the shock body would be on top, but the videos I've seen on them they have been on the bottom. I don't want to be replacing bushings in a year on them, but I also tow with a Caravan, and they'd seem perfect if they were reliable.
someone told me the bushings in them were weak. Its true! I bought some good poly bushings for $7. A worthy upgrade. Its been a year on them so far and I still like them a lot. They make the van ride so much more confidently. BTW, check out rockauto. They sell stiffer than stock coil springs for the grand caravan! Kinda pricey but... if you want a real truck like ride and support, I think the heavy duty coils would do it.
@@sstressfl i went to the Rockauto site but how do i know which are the stiffer coil springs?
@@ozzielomeli4690 at the bottom of the list for the 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan there are two straight rate Husky Springs... part # ttc1209 and ttc1208. The 1209 is 50% stiffer and are for 2012-2016 Dodge GC. But beyond rockauto's site... the Husky site shows even more! They have one with a variable rate and over 70% over stock load. Check it out :) www.huskyspring.com
So here's an update.. turns out th4 new oem shocks I purchased 8mo ago, the right rear was the Problem. I removed it, and put back one of the old oem, and wham, noise stopped. Now I have to contend with Chrysler parts dept fir warranty..
Nice job on this video. It is pretty cool to finally see someone from my area posting videos like this. I use that same parts store in West Leb that you used in this video. I'm one town south of that store. Now to go inspect my rear shocks and springs to see if I can find my constant clunking sounds.
Thank you neighbor 😎 Hope you discover the issue and it’s an easy fix 🙏 thanks for stopping by and leaving feedback!
What replacement parts did you use to replace the bushings in the shocks? I believe I have the same issue.
Very interesting..🤔. I've begun hearing a tapping noise right rear area, I'm thinking it would be a New shock I installed 8 months ago by Mopar.! I am waiting for warm temperatures so I can get under it.
I hope its that! Low hanging fruit to fix it. But also inspect the rear axle beam where it connects to the frame. Make sure its all hanging loose wioth no load on the suspension. There are two large bushings that isolate the axle beam and one or both (usually one at a time) can rip and allow the axle beam mounting point to tap against the frame rail. I had to replace one once (no video, I was in a hurry). No fun. The special hand held press tool was expensive so I ended up making my own. But hopefully its just the shock!
@@sstressflThanks for the input.. The slight tapping I hear, happens as I travel along a bumpy road, to me it seams as if muffler pipe is loose and slightly tapping. But if not, I have a gut feeling it's one of the two new shocks. I remember seeing oily sweat on shock shell right out of the box. I took them back Chrysler to have it replaced but clerk refused to exchange it, said it was guaranteed or mgr would replaced it. So I installed them. But out here in Westchester County, NY, its been cold and rainy. Must wait for warm temps, I'll be doing this out on the street.
@@MusicMinisterJP7 I can relate. Here in VT I have to wait until the snow melts and the mud dries before I can get down to the garage! :) I'm sure you'll find the culprit :)
@@sstressfl Nevertheless Michael, you have opened the right can of worms. Your assessment has applied various avenues on which to investigate, thank you.
I try to always only use 6 point sockets on everything... obvs hard to with wrenches if u don't own 6 but would be nice to have
And that gets more important the further north you go 😀 rust rust rust!
@@sstressfl where i live in ontario... we use salt so cars are crap lololol
@@MikeBrown-hd3bt I’m in Vermont! Our cars rot very fast too 😂
I wish I had a neighbour like you :)
That is a super nice thing to say :)
Awesome video! Very upbeat, positive attitude throughout! Very inspiring! My 2010 Chrysler Town & Country has the same kind of "clunking" in the suspension; both front and rear. Local mechanics don't want to bother with it since it has 227K Miles on it. But I still want to get at least 300K out of it. So it may be time to invest in some tools. But after watching your video, I'm pretty convinced that I can do this job myself.
Thank you for the encouragement and kindness🙏 I found the sway bar tends to be a low and slow clunk sound. The front struts are a faster and higher pitched clunk. And the sway bar end links make a direct metal on metal clunk sound that seems like it’s coming from the top/dashboard area. You can do it! Patience is key :) and you’ll save a lot of money! 🙏👍 God bless you!
@@sstressfl Thanks! About a year ago, after the van hit 200K miles, a mechanic replaced the rear shocks in my T&C...It didn't seem to help the clunking noise at all. In fact, it has gotten worse over the past year. The streets of Boston have not been kind to my suspension! Now, I am looking for new coil springs, and the ones I have found mention "With Nivomat" and "Without Nivomat". So I did a little bit of research and found that Nivomat shocks are self-leveling, do most of the suspension work on their own, and don't require the strongest coil springs... Now, did they put in the correct kinds of shock? Did they address the issue of the springs? Who knows? So I will probably end up overhauling the entire rear suspension myself, so I will know exactly what is there. Do you have a link at all to those MOOG coil Springs you used by chance?
@@BearHands31 check out rockauto.com They carry oem springs and springs with different load rates for most grand caravans. Also the nivomat shocks are meant for a van that was designed for nivomats. I would by only the style that came on your van from the factory. In regards to shocks making a clunking noise, try polyurethane bushings! They don’t stretch like rubber. And it’s possible the clunking noise is coming from one or both of your trailing arm bushings: I had to replace one of mine but did not make a video. It was a rush job. $50 for each bushing plus you need a special tool to press the old one out and press the new one in. I made my own. You can tell if it’s the bushing by inspecting the trailing arm where it connects to the frame while the rear suspension is unloaded, van up on jacks. Be careful! But once you fix it it’ll roll like new again!
Are you still liking those shocks ?
Still going strong and I’d buy em again!
@@sstressfl thanks for the video and I’m getting some this week.
About to tackle this very same thing.
Prayers for a safe and successful project my friend 🙏👍
@@sstressfl all went well. Springs we're in good shape but worn. The van 142700 miles on it.
@@johnchristian1205 great news 👊👏👏👏 Merry Christmas 🙏❤️
Love this Guy!!❤ and I just glanced at the previous commenter a split second and seen how CONTAGIOUS ThiS Guy's Attitude and EnthusiaSM!!
So glad to see I wasn't the only one who commented on that or had the joy of it catching this and the enlightenment it caused!! 😅 .... still laughin....
And WaTcHiN 😂...
Love it 🙏❤️ Thanks for the encouragement lol So glad you enjoyed 👏👏👏
I like when you do your drive test with new parts
I plan to swap the top for poly instead of the rubber bushings. What part# did you use on the poly bushings?
I was wondering too, where can get the poly bushings, if you find out can you tell me too, thanks.
I tossed the packaging... but I think this is them. I brought the shock with me and did a test fit before I bought 'em :) www.autozone.com/suspension-steering-tire-and-wheel/shock-eye-bushing-set/energy-suspension-black-shock-eye-bushing-set/354883_0_0
I tossed the packaging... but I think this is them. I brought the shock with me and did a test fit before I bought 'em :) www.autozone.com/suspension-steering-tire-and-wheel/shock-eye-bushing-set/energy-suspension-black-shock-eye-bushing-set/354883_0_0
I don't know if it applies to models above 2008, but I had an issue with a 2008 where something in the rear end made a clanging noise something like hitting a piece of metal with a hammer. Not a bump, but a clang or ringing noise. It turned out that inside the rear axle there is a round rod. One end of the rod broke the weld on one end and would move around hitting the axle housing. The repair required a new axle.
Sway bar I think!
Thanks so much! My 2016 Town & Country (61,000 miles) sounds like junk in the back. I’m optimistic this is the fix!
I hope so! Also inspect the rear axle mounting bushings. They can rip and clunk against the frame rail 👍
He said it's rusty 😂😂 come to Canada lol.
I imagine :) we sit on the border with Canada!
@@sstressfl really!? your frame and body look mint lol.
@@sstressfl great vid btw helped a lot just needed a bushing 👍👍👍
@joeryan7802 I try my best to keep it clean. I even clean and repaint chassis areas underneath every spring. But now in 2024 it’s getting ahead of me. It was a lot easier when I lived in Florida lol
Broken coil spring... so the spring on the shock was doing all the work.
No wonder the bushing got distorted
Actually these shocks would collapse if they were doing all the work 😁 the coil spring broke on its base. There was no noticeable visual drop in the height. Others have shared with me the bushings are too soft. It’s a common issue.
Hi Michael,
One question, do you recall what type/number Thule bar you have mounted on the roof?
The roof clamps were bought for $50 from a friend that didnt need them anymore. They were for a different vehicle but they fit like they were made for the van. So strong. Very solid. I will see if I can find out what they were intended for... and then I stumbled across the aero bars at a local shop. They were on clearance marked down 50% and they happen to be wide enough so I grabbed them :)
that new bolt is not coated it will be rusting fast i would have put the old ones back in if i could not get factory bolts
The factory bolt rusted like crazy. How would that have been any better? I covered the new one in grease. It'll last 5+ years as the factory bolt did.
Great job! My hubby (also Michael) and I joked that you should have taken it to Cadillac and asked Troy to look at it. Lol!
LOL!!!! Hilarious 😂 Thank you for the laugh 🙏
Thanks Michael. This has greatly helped me with my 2011 Volkswagen Routan
Thats wonderful!! Thank you for the feedback my friend :)
You mentioned you did the rear trailing arm bushings. Is there a video?
Sadly no... it was a rushed project and I did not record it. Sad too cuz I made a custom bushing press. I refised to pay $140 for one! If I ever do the other side, I'll be sure to record it :)
A pair of cargo straps would compress that spring to slip in easy peasy.
i just had it out again last week. I flipped it around so the stopper was on the top (proper install). Once the trailing arm is low it doesnt need compressions. It just falls into place :)
Was there signs of metal to metal contact on the shock absorber???
The monroe factory rubber bushing was stretched and the bottom of the shock body was contacting with the mounting tab. Stiffer bushings fixed that!
Love the videos, please keep going. Thank you
Thank you! This van keeps me pretty busy 😄I've got an AC to fix next. I hope it goes well.
I’ve been watching your channel for a while and I feel like we have common interests! I have a Grand Caravan and have added a radiator cooler and air bags to help tow my StarCraft pop up camper (I know you’ve upgraded) since I live in metro Detroit I appreciate your Tigers cap too! Keep up the good work
We were obviously seperated at birth! 😁 Nice to meet you Rick! I was born in Lansing, lived in GR, Novi, Clarkston, Waterford... I used to work in Bloomfield Hills at an ad agency and drove into Detroit pretty regularly for meetings at the New Center One building. Detroit will always be my home town when it comes to sports. But I mostly liked the area for the cars! I miss going to the Woodward Cruise... thanks for taking a moment to intruduce yourself and for the encouragement 🙏
I work at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak so Dream Cruise every year except for Covid
Jeez, you need to keep that thing cleaner.
I live on a dirt road. I usually spray the entire underside before working on it but not always possible.
Great video
I have a question. Using a floor kack, do you place it under the axle? I used the pinch points but I dont like lifting one side up so high for the jack stands. I went with the same shocks, monroe, and have no more clunks...a little bouncy but ok.
I dont lift under the axle. The pinch pounts are excellent but I have also lifted at the point where the rear axle arms bolt to the frame. I lift a short distance put the first jack stand in at a low level, then do the other side slightly higher, then back to the other side until I'm up as high as I need to go. I dont like lifting the van high on one side either. I lift in increments to be safe. I didnt find the shocks to be bouncy. For me they added confidence without being harsh. And the van rides beautifully. Better than new, I think. Handles better too :D
@@sstressfl thanks!
@@jamespeterson1163 be safe and happy fixing 🙏👍😎
Where did you purchase bushings? What size and manufacturer?
I ended up bringing the shock with me to autozone (only place I found them in stock) and I'm pretty sure this is the part. www.autozone.com/suspension-steering-tire-and-wheel/shock-eye-bushing-set/p/energy-suspension-black-shock-eye-bushing-set/354883_0_0 Avilable at Amazon too! amzn.to/3rKFneL
Much appreciated!
can u post the part number and where u got it
I went to rockauto.com and put in my year make and model then navigated to the part I needed. Let me know if you need any further assistance!
I've got a clunk in my van coming from somewhere i can't find. But it stops while I touch my brakes and I dont know where its coming from
Maybe more of a rattle on mine
@@tylerbailey9530 Pushing your brakes tighten things up so the clunk stops. Hmmm.... depending on miles, it could be your sway bar end links. I'd check those first cuz they are easy and cheap! But could be your brake pads rattling? Calipers? Best thing you can do is get under there and see what you can find. If you can jack up the nose and take the weight off the suspension, you can use a 2x4 and lift your tire from underneath gently and see if you find anything loose (ball joints, etc). Make sure to use jack stands! :) Give it a look inspection. Hope you can find it!
I have a 2008 Grand caravan and mine's doing the exact same thing loud rattle over bumps but doesn't make noise when applying the brakes, mind you I just have my brakes done at a local shop and it didn't start doing that until after the brake job
Great work. Did you happen to do a video about the trailing arm bushing?
👍 thank you. No I wish I did though. I even made my own bushing press 💪 if it happens again I’ll be sure to bring my camera 😎
@@sstressfl bummer there is not one vid on the subject across all youtube.
When i tried ordering springs, i have the option of buying for a Nivomat rear suspension or non-Nivomat. How can i tell what i have?
Nivomat is a self leveling suspension. It’s fancy and very expensive :) if your van sags with weight on it then you have normal springs like me 👍 But if your van levels itself when you add weight then you have nivomat.
@@sstressfl Any guess on why auto supply stores would make 2 different rear springs for nivomat & non-nivomat? the springs are to the side of the shock/strut so why would it make a difference?
@@ozzielomeli4690 I have heard of people who had the very expensive nivomat shocks convert to standard shocks and the back end sits much lower. The springs are different to compensate somehow.
Loved the feel of the whole video!
Thank you 🙏
Oh and a great video! Well done!
Thank you!!! 🙏🙏🙏