Hi all.
My continuing fight to find and cure an annoying ping-clunk from the rear of my 97 XK8 coupe. I had my daughter record the noise in the hope someone would recall the same problem and offer a remedy. I've already changed the rear lower shock bushes, roll bar links and I've completely removed the LH parking brakes and mechanism. Help me internet you're my only hope.

YouTube clip here starting a couple of seconds before the noise. The phone is being held outside the open passenger door.

 

Check the rear brake pads arnt rattling. The inner one should have a spring that sits in the caliper piston

 

That is a clear ping. Almost like a chime which suggests the part is isolated. You might try putting it up on a rack and then tapping various parts under the car to see if you can find one that chimes like that. From there you can likely figure out what it hitting it. My guess is that something lose is swinging and hitting the drive shaft (it's isolated by rubber and may chime like that). The exhaust pipes could chime like that as well but they are hollow and I think the tone would be very different. This sounds like a solid part to me not a hollow one. Good hunting!

 

While you have it on the hoist ,check out the drive shaft universal joints , sounds very like a noise I had once & thats what it turned out to be .

 

Possibly rear wheel bearings. Check for play in the wheel when up on the hoist. This is a common repair for the XK.

 

Thanks all. Next time it's in the air I'll check again.