I have a 98 328i (E36), and I've been hearing a high-pitched clunk from my rear suspension lately, only when going over bumps. I jacked the car up yesterday and did the 12-and-6 and 9-and-3 o'clock shake to see if there was any abnormal movement or sound. There was none. I'm thinking it could be my RSM's, but I was just wondering what else it could be and how to determine exactly what it is before starting a job on it...

RSM's bro...

Yeah that's the direction I'm headed with this, but I just want to make sure there isn't anything else I should check before getting dirty. I really don't like it when I start a job, take the car apart, and then realize I have to go get something else from somewhere I can't get to without a car, you know?

What exactly happens when the RSM's go bad? Do they get squashed, or crack, or what?

The only real way to check it out is to pull all of your trunk liner and look at them.

dead bodies in the back?

even had a loose speaker once ;)

just tear into the trunk and look man

Yeah that's the direction I'm headed with this, but I just want to make sure there isn't anything else I should check before getting dirty. I really don't like it when I start a job, take the car apart, and then realize I have to go get something else from somewhere I can't get to without a car, you know?

What exactly happens when the RSM's go bad? Do they get squashed, or crack, or what?


They crack and seperate, causing the rubber to wear away and bang metal to metal when going over a bump.