Rear Suspension noise

[scooter996]

Everytime I go over bumps in my 2006 Avalon Touring I hear a clunking noise from the BACK rear dash area. Have the Sway bars gone bad or is it strut towers? I swear I saw a TSB about this earlier but at the time I didnt have the problem. The car now has 54,000 miles on it and of course its having issues now. Anybody else having this problem and if so whats the going rate of repair? I have already taken everything ouot the trunk that could cause a rattle. I sell the Toyota Motor Oil to their dealerships so I do have an in but Id like to research it before I present the problem. I knew about the reflashing of the tranny but swear there was a TSB about the rear sway bars or strut towers.

[Pirates08]

I did everything except crawl into the trunk & have my husband drive it around while I tried to figure out where that terrible noise was coming from - turned out to be the struts were shot. This was on a 98 Avalon with 150,000+ miles so your problem may be different. I would check for recalls again but it sounds like struts to me. Good Luck!

[haroldo]

Struts don't last for ever.
In addition, my 96's bushings were worn down and needed to be replaced. (Not a mechanic, but it's like a rubber holder for the sway bar).
My car sounded like I had a dead body in the trunk, so I know what you're talking about.