Rattle in rear end from loose trunk shocks - Anyone else?

[Jenns01TA]

Question, if this would still be considered On Topic:
How do I test/isolate for the muffler baffles?

Also, I wrapped a couple of small pieces of silicone tubing around my trunk shocks just to see if they were rattling against anything when closed. No problems on mine.

After ruling out:
Suspension vibrations and component issues.
Loose hanger and isolator brackets.
Body Fitament and Panel vibrations.

Then you either get that baby up in the air or you underneath it and listen to the COLD muffler with a scope.

 

[slammer1]

Rubberbands!

Did a backyard engineering fix to my loose fitting trunk shock rattle issue that Jenn smartly discovered. Tied a rubberband to bottom portion of shock cylinder, then spiral wrapped it around cylinder 4 times to top of cylinder tying it to the top mount. Yea a red rubberband on a black shock looks SILLY but it works! Jenn: Got any black rubberbands?

 

[Jenns01TA]

Did a backyard engineering fix to my loose fitting trunk shock rattle issue that Jenn smartly discovered. Tied a rubberband to bottom portion of shock cylinder, then spiral wrapped it around cylinder 4 times to top of cylinder tying it to the top mount. Yea a red rubberband on a black shock looks SILLY but it works! Jenn: Got any black rubberbands?

Good thing I was too busy to get the duct tape and towels last night. Amazing what a day and some backyard engineering brings. I have no black rubber bands, slammer, and at this point it is all about Function before Form. So, I am cool with the 'ghetto' fix if it silences the rattle and functions.

I am off to dig up some rubber bands and when I go to pick up my son at 2:30pm I will let you know if this worked for me.

THANK YOU!

 

[Jenns01TA]

End result - It WAS the sloppy mounting clamps on the trunk shocks. I ended out using red electrical conduit wrap and cut 4 sections about 1/2" and slid them over the mounting pin between the shock and the pin weld. VIOLA' the clank-chunk-rattle-rattle-tap is now gone.

WOOT! Nice work fellas with the backyard engineering fixes and thanks for the input.

Jenn

 

[McQueens Dream]

thanks for this post Jenn, my wife's car rattles like a horse and buggy, we just atributed it to be a mustang, and not a Mercedes. we had a rattle in the front and rear, so they found the front rattle, it was the engine cradle loose and not torqued down properly, but it's fixed. now i will look into this trunk deal. thanks

 

[bigcat]

pics? lets see this creative engineering.

 

[bigcat]

here are Jenn's pics....

 

[kooldawg6]

I too just used Jenn's electrical conduit fix on the trunk struts to take care of MOST of the rattles from the rear of the car.

 

[Jenns01TA]

WOOT! Glad to know my Backyard Ghetto Engineering assisted someone, Dawg. The other rattle I had was a loose exhaust muffler isolater bracket bolt.

You know, they either over torque the bolts to the point of requiring a dremel cutter to remove or they hand tighten well below nm to where my 9 year old could remove them. You would think they have all those fancy exploded views with "recommended" nm values for a reason. They must be for the engineers. The mechanics certainly do not look at them.

~J~

 

[Infinity]

Actually, I found my exhaust rattle mentioned earlier in the thread. The driver's side is pushed slightly towards the rear of the car. This allows the hanger to vibrate just a bit against the bracket on the car. Unfortunately, I'll have to take it somewhere to get fixed. I don't fit under the car.