Clunking from right rear when lifting from throttle

[Andy348]

Just today my car started to make a fairly pronounced clunking noise whenever I let off the throttle. It seems to be originating from the right rear wheel, and it gets much louder if I'm turning right.

I will be jacking the car up tomorrow to inspect, but what's the most likely culprit?

EDIT: Not sure if this is connected, but it seems suspect. Earlier in the day, before the clunking noise occurred, I attempted to park on a fairly steep incline. My parking brake tends to stick so I left it in gear, but the car started to roll slowly backwards. It would catch itself, and then just as I'd go to get out it'd move back a couple inches. In the end I parked elsewhere.

[jlevie]

The noise could be most anything in the rear suspension or drive train from the transmission back. But if worse while turning look to the half shafts and wheel bearings first.

The parking brake problem could be just that it needs adjustment, like:

1) Lower the hand brake and loosen the cable adjusters.

2) Working through a lug bolt hole turn the star adjuster until the wheel
locks using a flat-bladded screwdriver. I just turn the adjuster until it
doesn't want to turn any more. Then back off the adjuster 12 clicks. Repeat
for the other wheel. Note that the star adjuster is at the 6 o'clock position
on later cars, but at the 10-11 o'clock position on an E30.

3) Raise and lower the hand brake several times to settle the cables. Then
raise the lever two clicks and tighten the adjusters until the wheel can just
be turned with moderate force.

[Andy348]

The issue was the lug nuts not being tight enough on the opposite side. D'oh.

Thanks for the handbrake instructions, I'll be adjusting it as soon as possible.

My issue now is that my left rear tire will move side to side and up an down a bit while the car is on jack stands.

[jlevie]

That will be a bad bearing or bad trailing arm bushings (or both).

[Andy348]

Whenever I move the tire I can see the output shaft in the back moving also. Is this indicative of either failure?

I'm assuming it'd be smart to do them both at the same time.