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A clunking or rattling noise from the rear suspension of a Ford Explorer is often caused by worn rear struts, loose sway bar links, damaged bushings, or broken coil springs. The rear suspension uses a MacPherson strut design on many Explorer models, and over time the strut mounts and bushings can wear out, allowing metal-to-metal contact. Before replacing parts, perform a visual inspection of the struts for fluid leaks, check the sway bar end links for play, and verify that all suspension fasteners are torqued to specification. If the struts are the source of the noise, replacement should be done in pairs. Raise the vehicle securely, support the rear axle or control arm, remove the lower strut bolt and the upper mounting nuts, then carefully lower the strut assembly. Compare the old and new struts, transfer any reusable hardware, and install the new unit. Torque the lower bolt and upper nuts to the manufacturer's specifications. After installation, have a wheel alignment checked if necessary, and test drive to confirm that the noise is gone.