Clunk/rattling noise coming from the back end
 

Hi guys, I was wondering if you could help me out. Since I have had my 2004 blobeye (only a couple of months) it has always had a bit of a clunk/rattle from the back end. It is more noticeable on the passenger side but I think there is a noise on the other side as well, just nowhere near as loud.

Originally I thought it was something to do with the boot maybe as it has an STI spoiler but I suspect only the stock WRX torsion rods (boot springs whatever you want to call them). So I took the boot, hinges and rods off this weekend and took it for a drive but it was still making the noise.

I have been reading up on this problem and it seems to be fairly common on stock suspension whereby the suspensions rattles as it does not have enough grease in them but this has KW coilovers (I think V3's) on them which led me to think that maybe the top mount has gone.

I took the top mount cover off, as I already had the rear interior out to remove the boot, and they seemed OK from a visual inspection on top but are there any tests I can try to find out if it is definitely the top mounts or has anyone else had any similar issues whilst using coilovers?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Everything OK underneath with rear anti-roll bar and drop links? Bushes all good?

ARB isn't touching backbox?

I have only had a quick look underneath as was short on time at the weekend and it seemed OK but I should be able to spend more time on it this weekend to have a better look around

So I have just managed to get a more detailed look at all the bushes and drop links and from what I can tell they all seem fine. They don't seem to have any excessive movement at all and don't appear to be perished at all. Checked the clearance between ARB and backbox and that all seemed OK as well.

From driving around in the car a bit more it does kinda sound like the noise is coming from the top end of the suspension rather than lower down.

Is there any way I can accurately test the top mounts without having to remove the fork and spring?

could be Shock Absorber itself quite common.

Is it still quite common for coilovers to go the same way as well?

check your jack is securely fastened and that the jack handle isnt knocking around

Sorry forgot to mention that both the jack and jack handle have already been taken out but good shout as I seem to have seen quite a few people say that this was the cause of a few noises.