I've been trying to figure out the reason for some clunking at the rear left -- the source sounds like near the wheel well. I only hear it at low speeds. It "clunks" as I move (it's not a "rattle"). Is it bushings? Or is it a tie rod? I can't tell by visual inspection -- don't quite know what to look for. I removed the wheel to look around, but no clue. Then again, I don't know what to look for. BTW, I removed the spare tire and ruled out the possibility that it was jiggling around. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

Well, hard to say--there is no "usual suspect". Should put it on a lift, look at shocks, worn bushings, looseness, play... Hard to do this on the ground. If you don't know what to look for, I don't know...

 

make sure you check the shock mount bolts that go to the frame, my wife hits (seemingly) every curb...

 

For these types of problems, you need to put the car up on jackstands, remove the wheel and take a look. If it is the rear that is clunking, then it definitely is not a tie rod as those are only in the front. Once up on jackstands (make sure they are solid), grab the shock and give it a good shake to see if it makes any noise. It should be good and tight. Inspect the trailing arm bushings. If you don't know what they are, google it. There are pics on the internet of volvo 240 trailing arm bushings.

Another thing to check - and you can do it without jacking the car up - is the exhaust. The whole exhaust system is suspended by rubber donuts. If it comes in contact with the body of the car it will clunk or transmit vibrations to the car undercarriage. Grab the tailpipe (don't do this right after driving the car) and shake it around. It should not clunk against any part of the undercarriage,

 

I'm the OP. I checked the exhaust and everything there is tight. I'm pretty sure it's the bushings -- at least the left side. At more than 300K miles, I should expect that they are due (or overdue) for replacement. I'm wondering if the car is safe to drive in the meantime. What exactly is the risk of driving around -- smoothly and slowly -- with rear bushings that are completely shot?

 

I'd drive it if I had to. Front end suspension failure could be more serious if something catastrophic happened--you'd lose steering; rear end, what can happened? Never heard of any big issues, may get some loud thumps and such...

 

Petergreen -

Check out this Scotty Kilmer how to check/change your tie rod. It is an easy fix but follow closely about not throwing off your alignment.

 

Since the clunk is in the rear - it's not the tie rod end

 

I'm the OP. Yesterday my left rear tire blew out after about 8 miles of normal driving. I wonder if the clunking at rear left (bushing?) could have caused, or at least contributed, to the blowout. (The tire was older and was developing a lot of little cracks along the sidewall.)

 

I doubt that the bushing had much to do with it. From the sounds of it the tire was suffering dry rot if you had cracking on the sidewalls. All it takes is hitting one too many potholes before you get a blowout on a rotted tire.