Clonk from rear axle

Hi.
I have a 2015 defender with 26k on the clock that has developed a ‘clonk’ when I pull away, it isn’t the prop shaft. And I have checked the half shaft ends are bolted up tight. (The half shafts are the ones that have the fixed ends on them).
I have also checked the ball joint on top of the axle and it doesn’t appear to have movement. Any ideas?

thanks tom

Tab95 said:

Hi.
I have a 2015 defender with 26k on the clock that has developed a ‘clonk’ when I pull away, it isn’t the prop shaft. And I have checked the half shaft ends are bolted up tight. (The half shafts are the ones that have the fixed ends on them).
I have also checked the ball joint on top of the axle and it doesn’t appear to have movement. Any ideas?

thanks tom

Click to expand...

How have you checked the ball joint? They need a decent length breaker bar to make sure

If it does it when first pulling away after standing overnight but not on subsequent pulling away it could be the transmission (hand) brake sticking.

Could be the Cyclist you ran over going greenlaning recently

Marmaduke said:

How have you checked the ball joint? They need a decent length breaker bar to make sure

Click to expand...

I used a bar about 2.5 feet long to pry between the axle and the ‘A’ bar to see if there is any lift. I didn’t put a massive effort into it though ‍

Wimblowdriver said:

If it does it when first pulling away after standing overnight but not on subsequent pulling away it could be the transmission (hand) brake sticking.

Click to expand...

no it does it all the time. It is a little worse in the mornings though.

Sounds like A frame ball joint. Is the gaiter in good nick? Another culprit would be hub drive members which you can check visibly whilst rocking the car with handbrake on. Also input gear to trans box can wear if oil low or on older boxes like lt77