Firebird-guy

Hey guys im knew and hoping you could help me. I gotta 02 firebird formula with 32k miles on it. Every time i go over a bumpy road the car makes a clanking noise like the tail pipes are hitting it. I watched my dad drive it over bumps i heard the noise and the tailpies never moved. I took it to a pontiac dealer and they tried fixing it but couldnt find anything wrong. They said all these sportcars make noise. Whatever.....if anyone has a suggestion or has also encountered this problem please give me a suggestion or a solution. Yeah and im 17 and this is my first car so i wouldnt have as much knowledge as you other great Firebird owners. Thanks alot.

y2k_ta

iTrader: (80)

Check the spare tire. If it's loose, the bolt & wing-nut holding it to the car will rattle.

Firebird-guy

Thanks I'll check that but please throw any more ideas at me in the mean time.

mumu_624

iTrader: (1)

might be your rear hatch...

do you have wheel hope??

redfbird99

iTrader: (20)

if its none of those things, just take it to a regular repair shops, dealers never seem to get things solved for how much you pay. btw got any pics of your bird? I too am 17 but wasnt smart enough to spend my money on a v8, i got a supercharged 6 instead.

Firebird-guy

heres some pictures of my car redfbird99

EchoMirage

iTrader: (3)

where in jersey? and if you really want to hear it, get a cat back, then maybe headers. i have pacesetters LTs and SLP LM1. NICE and loud......

Firebird-guy

Old Bridge, and i dont really have the money to do any mods to it right now lol

EchoMirage

iTrader: (3)

right next to englishtown? lucky you.....you can look around for some used parts. if youre interested, i have a set of brand new SLP cats, and a used SLP Y pipe if you want to do something later on. first mods most guys do are a lid and filter.

Firebird-guy

Thanks man man but i think i like my car the way it is for now.

tomustang

Get under the car and look for yourself, just because you can't see it move doesn't mean you can rule it out. While your under there check to see if anything is touching

TAvsGN

Maybe when the axle travels up from a bump, it is contacting the exhaust pipe? I put full duals on my 78 and that happened to me. Pipes were secure, but too low making them contact the axle housing.

Firebird-guy

Thanks guys its to cold out ight now when it warms up ill be sure to check it out

NOS4EVER

It might be a lose shook absorber.
Try to have some one shake the car up and down and try to listen where is the sound coming from.
p.s open the hatch shake the car from that area or your quarter panels will be bend like mine .

'Trust'

iTrader: (24)

My bet is the spare and jack not being tightened down. Pull off the cover and check.

JSmee99T/A

iTrader: (15)

my v6 has a clunking noise when it travels up and down. I can push i the rear and it does it when she travels more than a four inches or so. Ive yet to be under there when it does it but its definitely not the spare. Ill report my findings if you still have an issue. Its not a big deal to me shes just my DD and noises are normal with 115k lol.

phoenix82

The problem is that the muffler is hitting the car. I had the same problem, but one day I checked the exhaust (I got the GMMG one). I found that one of the brackets that holds the exhaust was broken and this was making the pipes rattle and hit agaist the car when going over speed bumps. My dad helped me to weld the car and the rattle noise was gone after that. Get under the car and check if the muffler moves up and down enough to hit the car.

sswagon1

I was going to say torque arm, until I reread your post. My problem started after going over a set of rail road tracks. But mine hit the tranny tunnel. Loose torque arm. My .02.

WS6Vixen

iTrader: (2)

Try checking the suspension. Check the lower control arms and the panhard. That's what was the problem with my car making that kind of noise.