Dodge Caravan Owners (help!!!!)

[Mark72]

2000 Dodge Gr Caravan. New shocks and struts. New sway bar links and bushings. But still, when I'm backing from a drivway that has the dip at the end where the gutter us, I here a thumping noise as the van goes over it. I also hear it when I'm driving at lower speeds going over uneven asphalt. It is driving my CRAZY. It drives straight, no play in the wheel, nice and smooth on interstate. I just dropped by a Midas and the guy said they have a newer Caravan in their lot and they have been chasing the same problem for a year now and still can't find it. It also has all the new parts on it that I have replaced. Even motor mounts are new on this other van I'm referencing. Is this just something I have to chalk up to as this van being a POS and I have to live with it?

Could it be wheel bearings making that noise? thumping..not a squeeling noise or metal on metal sound

 

[georgemiller]

In a situation such as yours I would just turn up the radio to drown out the noise.

 

[bdcardinal]

How do the control arm bushings look?

 

[Mark72]

no idea on that one. I'm frustrated and about to take it back to my mechanic and tell him.."look, I brought it to you because it was making this noise and now I have it back and it is still here"

 

[doitmyself]

There seems to be a lot of similar stories across the interweb. Frustrating indeed.

My '05 developed the clunk while still under warranty (20K). They replaced the sway bar bushings and so far, it's still good at 120K.

Are you sure your mechanic replaced them? Sometimes they lie.

In a google search, I also saw some talk of the possibility that genuine mopar bushings are "improved" (plastic insert) to alleviate this common problem.

MOOG claims to have a "problem solver" bushing with plastic/rubber construction and a greasable link:

http://www.moogproblemsolver.com/_pdf_En/MOOG_PS_Bulletin_27036_K7406_K7258_En.pdf
Good luck and let us know the outcome.