Unknown Rattling Sound
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 321
Likes: 30
From: Massachusetts
Unknown Rattling Sound Hi Guys. I'm new to the forum. I have a problem that has been driving me crazy for a long time. I have a rattling sound that is coming from the rear. I'm pretty confident it is coming from the driver's side area, but I'm not 100% certain. I looked at it myself and could not find anything. I also had a mechanic drive it and after hearing the rattle we lifted it up. Everything is TIGHT! Sway bar links, shocks, shields..... The trunk looks solid. The spare tire and jack also are firmly in place. This may be my imagination, but it appears that this rattle only exists in dry conditions. During or after a light rain, it doesn't do it. But like I said, maybe I'm crazy. Also, I can only hear this in slow driving over small bumps and road imperfections. We're talking like 5-20 mph driving. The rattle is pretty hard to describe. It is not loud nor is it a horrible sound, but nevertheless there is definitely a rattle once it hits a bump and only when it hits a bump. Any ideas? This is driving me crazy.
2001 Trans Am WS6 6 speed
2001 Trans Am WS6 6 speed
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 321
Likes: 30
From: Massachusetts
I know You said you had everything checked out but it sounds exactly like the rattle I had which turned out to be the panhard bar bushings - specifically the axle end connection rather than the body connection.
This might be a silly / dumb question but have you checked (and I'm dead serious about this.) to make sure your rear wheels are tightly secured to the vehicle? Just go by them with a torque wrench. I know you said you checked the shocks but that can be done from the hatch without removing the wheel. If the wheel is loose (even alittle) it will make alot of noise. I had rattling and knocking in the rear once, turns out one of my rear tires was loose.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 321
Likes: 30
From: Massachusetts
the wheels are tight. Everything seems tight. I"m pretty sure it must be a stupid bushing somewhere. I'm going to replace the panhard bushing and work from there. I'm fairly sure it must be the panhard bushing.
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Remove the nuts on the top of the rear shocks and check the bushing centering. The bushings wear and move from center causing the shock mounting stud to contact the body. Wet conditions lube the stud and quiet the noise. Every Fbody I owned developed this noise after about 75k. I center the shock and replace the top bushing with a new non factory bushing. The factory bushings are very soft . New bushing will be very stiff and won't let the shock move off center and contact the body.............................................. ..........................
1st time this happened to me I spent about 10hrs trying to find the noise. Was always quiet after a car wash or in the rain.
1st time this happened to me I spent about 10hrs trying to find the noise. Was always quiet after a car wash or in the rain.
