2019 Malibu, something wrong with suspension.

[R18Civic]

Back again, same knocking noise coming from drivers rear but now It's been verified by an amusement park mechanic that the driver rear isn't the same height as the passenger rear.

Two conclusions that were come to previously. Knuckle is bad, or sway bar end link bushing is bad.

Is it possible the rear shock is compromised by itself?

 

[zrxkawboy]

Sway bar link or shock should not caused a change in height.

 

[dishdude]

An amusement park mechanic?

 

[oldhp]

A broken internal shock could hold car up or down depending on how it broke. Take bottom of shock off and bounce it.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Does this car have struts in the corners? Rear struts can sag at different rates producing and uneven stance.

 

[Jetronic]

has anyone checked the simplest thing? a broken spring?

 

[R18Civic]

has anyone checked the simplest thing? a broken spring?

Not yet. I'm making a list of things to check once I get and heal from my hernia surgery. My buddy says check shocks/springs and lower control arm.

 

[R18Civic]

An amusement park mechanic?

Lol yes. He works on everything to park vehicles to roller coasters. Should've seen him when I told him what the issue was. He just dove onto the hard pavement and slithered under the rear end of the car..

 

[RhondaHonda]

Knuckles done really go bad. They are either bent or cracked. It’d take a crack to make a knocking noise which should’ve been visible to the amusement park mechanic. A sway bar end link is a cheap and easy fix but look at the spring and shock as others said.

 

[HemiBenny]

So are you saying that the knuckle/spindle isn’t the knock for sure, or you’re just gathering possibilities? I have replaced several of those knuckles/spindles on these Malibus. It makes one heck of a knock sound! The circled part is the culprit.

 

[R18Civic]

So are you saying that the knuckle/spindle isn’t the knock for sure, or you’re just gathering possibilities? I have replaced several of those knuckles/spindles on these Malibus. It makes one heck of a knock sound! The circled part is the culprit.

View attachment 284544

I showed my buddy a picture of said bushing yesterday and told him about how they fail. He told me to check the spring, shock and lower control arm first before throwing a new knuckle on it. Measured both sides of rear last night. From top of tire to edge of fender. Right side is 1/4-3/8 higher than the driver side.

 

[HemiBenny]

I showed my buddy a picture of said bushing yesterday and told him about how they fail. He told me to check the spring, shock and lower control arm first before throwing a new knuckle on it. Measured both sides of rear last night. From top of tire to edge of fender. Right side is 1/4-3/8 higher than the driver side.

Well, tire pressures, wear, human error, etc, could make a difference in measurements from the top of the tire to the fender.
Just going by my experience, I would put money on the Knuckle/Spindle being the culprit. I would hear them make a loud Knock when stopping or just by barely shifting the weight of the car by moving forward or backward.
Without being there, that's my best guess.

 

[R18Civic]

Well, tire pressures, wear, human error, etc, could make a difference in measurements from the top of the tire to the fender.
Just going by my experience, I would put money on the Knuckle/Spindle being the culprit. I would hear them make a loud Knock when stopping or just by barely shifting the weight of the car by moving forward or backward.
Without being there, that's my best guess.

Thank you.

 

[AZjeff]

Good luck finding a piece of pavement that isn't off 1/4-3/8" between the 4 contact patches. Mark the location of the 4 tires and turn the car around and place it on those spots and see what it reads. Will confirm or deny measurements.

 

[R18Civic]

Good luck finding a piece of pavement that isn't off 1/4-3/8" between the 4 contact patches. Mark the location of the 4 tires and turn the car around and place it on those spots and see what it reads. Will confirm or deny measurements.

You are right sir. When I park at work it's level. my apartment complex isn't the case.

 

[mk378]

Need to at least jack up that corner and take the wheel off (like for a tire change) to see most things.