Dreadful thumping rear wheel

[jfaatz]

91 Legacy sedan, non turbo has loud thumping in right, rear, wheel well when car reaches 65 mph. Sounds exactly like piece of loose tire hitting the well. But no, brand new tires made no difference. I have removed and examined brakes and all parts in area but can not find a clue to noise. Thump! Appreciate any ideas...thump.

[BAC5.2]

Awkward handling, bump associated (uncomfortable ride, or changed ride), ONLY at 65mph?

Inspect everything on the rear of the car. If it makes noise, usually something is rubbing something else. Check for wear on anything related to the suspension.

[jfaatz]

There's no bump, no rough ride or bad handling. It's been a while since I pushed it over 70, but if I remember the thump clears over 70. As one might guess, that is not a comforting feeling.

[greg donovan]

have you checked the torque on the lugnuts?

[jfaatz]

Very good suggestion there Greg, and yes I did and that is not it. The sound is exactly like a single piece of tire swinging out and hitting the wheel well, and at 60+ mph it is, of coarse, fast thumping and loud. Might it be the strut top connection loose, and anyone know of a 'non-specialized' tool for holding the strut shaft while tightening the nut?

[professor]

use a 1/2" drive socket for the nut, clenched in a large pair of vise-grips. You then sneak a small socket through the hole on the big socket, to hold the shaft. If it is allen head (I forget, the AGX are allen), you can fit the allen right through square drive hole in the 1/2" socket

it makes more of a thunm over bumps, but if you also have a bent wheel or out of balance wheel, especially with a worn strut, that could get the wheel hopping and make the sound regular

[professor]

check the three bolts on the strut top as well, maybe the whole shebang is loose, not just the rod

[greg donovan]

could be a totally blown strut.