The hated rattle
02-22-2013, 05:47 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
The hated rattle
Dont know about you guys but I cant do rattles in my car. I dont know if i have super hearing or am just easily annoyed. Either way Ive spent a fair amount of time trying to locate a rattle under my drivers side rear quarter. The sound is kind of like a loose clamp or even a spring boing type sound. Only happens driving over reflectors, expansion joints or brick roads. Ive inspected suspension, removed wheel well shroud, banged on mufflers and clamps with rubber mallet all of it without any luck 
.
My usual indy tells me the other day that its a worn control arm and i should replace them on each corner as they are all worn. Hmmm.... I dont like to replace parts that arent broken and the quote i saw was so inflated I passed.
So I decided to get a second opinion. I go to another indy that ive never used and the fellow was able to diagnose the problem with one quick drive. Turns out their is a spring that assists the parking brake somehow. I was told to pull parking brake up a few clicks and drive over the reflectors to test and confirm....
It fricken worked!
You have no idea how pumped I was to finally have found this rattle. Big thanks go to Wiliam at J&W Motorsports. You have a new loyal customer for years to come.
.My usual indy tells me the other day that its a worn control arm and i should replace them on each corner as they are all worn. Hmmm.... I dont like to replace parts that arent broken and the quote i saw was so inflated I passed.
So I decided to get a second opinion. I go to another indy that ive never used and the fellow was able to diagnose the problem with one quick drive. Turns out their is a spring that assists the parking brake somehow. I was told to pull parking brake up a few clicks and drive over the reflectors to test and confirm....
It fricken worked!
You have no idea how pumped I was to finally have found this rattle. Big thanks go to Wiliam at J&W Motorsports. You have a new loyal customer for years to come.
02-22-2013, 06:20 PM
#2
Rat Balls
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Good tip. Rattles can be annoying and incredibly hard to diagnose. I had one that I was 100% sure was coming from the glove box/dash area. Even had my wife try to find it while I drove while pressing on every sq inch. Nothing. I would get so frustrated I would pull over and start rearranging the items in the glove box, moving air vents, pressing on the horseshoe. You name it.
It was months before I realized it was the ashtray.
It was months before I realized it was the ashtray.
02-23-2013, 08:42 AM
#5
Rennlist Member
Rattles are very frustrating to say the least. I'm glad that you were intuitive and found someone to diagnose the problem without replacing half the parts in your car.
02-23-2013, 09:56 AM
#6
Rennlist Member
I am the same way.... I had one and it drove me nuts trying to find it. Last time I had the car in for state inspection and it was on the lift, Then and only then with the suspention sprug could I find that it was the swaybar drop links.
02-23-2013, 10:47 AM
#7
Racer
When I started hearing a rattling sound in my '04 C4s I ended up getting an MRI and and a script for Zoloft
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02-25-2013, 07:22 AM
#8
Drifting
Join Date: Sep 2011
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Dont know about you guys but I cant do rattles in my car. I dont know if i have super hearing or am just easily annoyed. Either way Ive spent a fair amount of time trying to locate a rattle under my drivers side rear quarter. The sound is kind of like a loose clamp or even a spring boing type sound. Only happens driving over reflectors, expansion joints or brick roads. Ive inspected suspension, removed wheel well shroud, banged on mufflers and clamps with rubber mallet all of it without any luck .
My usual indy tells me the other day that its a worn control arm and i should replace them on each corner as they are all worn. Hmmm.... I dont like to replace parts that arent broken and the quote i saw was so inflated I passed.
So I decided to get a second opinion. I go to another indy that ive never used and the fellow was able to diagnose the problem with one quick drive. Turns out their is a spring that assists the parking brake somehow. I was told to pull parking brake up a few clicks and drive over the reflectors to test and confirm....
BTW I wouldnt drive your car with the hand lever even one or two clicks up to stop that rattle... also leave your car in gear in your garage and leave the handbrake off. It takes tension off the hand brake wire. Dont forget to put it back on before you depress the clutch for starting the car.
It fricken worked! You have no idea how pumped I was to finally have found this rattle. Big thanks go to Wiliam at J&W Motorsports. You have a new loyal customer for years to come.
.My usual indy tells me the other day that its a worn control arm and i should replace them on each corner as they are all worn. Hmmm.... I dont like to replace parts that arent broken and the quote i saw was so inflated I passed.
So I decided to get a second opinion. I go to another indy that ive never used and the fellow was able to diagnose the problem with one quick drive. Turns out their is a spring that assists the parking brake somehow. I was told to pull parking brake up a few clicks and drive over the reflectors to test and confirm....
BTW I wouldnt drive your car with the hand lever even one or two clicks up to stop that rattle... also leave your car in gear in your garage and leave the handbrake off. It takes tension off the hand brake wire. Dont forget to put it back on before you depress the clutch for starting the car.
It fricken worked!
You have no idea how pumped I was to finally have found this rattle. Big thanks go to Wiliam at J&W Motorsports. You have a new loyal customer for years to come.BTW After you adjust your (hand/emergancy brake) it might be a good idea in the future to leave your car in gear in your garage and leave the handbrake off. It takes tension from the hand brake wire. Dont forget to put it back on before you depress the clutch for starting the car.
02-26-2013, 11:35 PM
#10
Racer
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I have had rattle in cabin over road irregularities and God forbid 3k rpm... I looked everywhere touuching everything... I thought I had it pinned to the CD rack when one day I just decided to push down on the leather boot ahead of the shifter and noise was silenced! WOO HOO... now all I gotta do is get under there and figure out what is rattling like a loos screw dancing on plastic.
03-28-2013, 12:00 AM
#11
Instructor
Advice?
Good tip. Rattles can be annoying and incredibly hard to diagnose. I had one that I was 100% sure was coming from the glove box/dash area. Even had my wife try to find it while I drove while pressing on every sq inch. Nothing. I would get so frustrated I would pull over and start rearranging the items in the glove box, moving air vents, pressing on the horseshoe. You name it.
It was months before I realized it was the ashtray.
It was months before I realized it was the ashtray.
03-28-2013, 12:05 AM
#12
Drifting
03-28-2013, 12:45 AM
#13
Rat Balls
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I did the ashtray delete. The part replaces the ashtray with a small cubby with a rubber lining. You can order one from Suncoast or Pelican. Only comes in black, but I painted mine Aluma-look. Can post a pic later if you like.
Last edited by Gonzo911; 03-28-2013 at 11:51 AM.
03-28-2013, 12:20 PM
#15
Burning Brakes
oh i just give a bootful to the right pedal - and that generates so much noise and vibration that i am completely oblivious to the small rattle from the ashtray or the passenger airbag area
on a serious note, i will try the parking brake tip
on a serious note, i will try the parking brake tip