Question about struts...I keep getting mixed opinions

[drmonkey]

I've had this horrible vibration/rattling coming from the rear of the car for awhile now. It has gradually gotten worse now (it seems) and it only does it at idle and in reverse, once I give it gas it goes away completely. It almost sounds like the strut mount was bad but after pulling it and the strut off and checking all the bushings nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I'm thinking the strut is bad because:

1. It's coated in oil (obvious sign that a strut is blown)
2. I can compress it very easily with almost no resistance and it doesn't rebound but maybe an inch or so.

The only other thing I could think of would be the diff mounts.

Thoughts?

[KingWulfgar]

It's bad. Replace both sides.

ETA: Not guaranteed to be the source of your vibration, though.

[miA4]

i would think that if you have a vibration while idle or in reverse, your exhaust, may be the source of your rattle.

[drmonkey]

i would think that if you have a vibration while idle or in reverse, your exhaust, may be the source of your rattle.

You can hear it inside the cabin up near the rear deck. I do have a small exhaust rattle from where it's hitting the mangled crossmember underneath the car. I may pick up the Powerflex diff mount insert and replace it with the suspension.

[miA4]

You can hear it inside the cabin up near the rear deck. I do have a small exhaust rattle from where it's hitting the mangled crossmember underneath the car. I may pick up the Powerflex diff mount insert and replace it with the suspension.

I just don't see how the strut mount would be making noise sitting idle or in reverse. the best thing to do is to put it up on a lift and try to duplicate the sound from there.