Something large is rattling - what could it be?

[KenC]

I noticed the other day that there is a rattling noise coming from the right side of the car whenever I go over a bump. It's not a slight rattle like a screw loose or something; it sounds like something rather large is rattling around. It's hard to tell when driving whether or not it's from the front or the rear. Could it be the front caliper? Or the rear drum system perhaps? Could it have something to do with the ebrake system? Ive noticed a few times before the new springs were installed that I'd take the ebrake off and go to back up and it was still engaged...

I'd like to get an idea of what it could be before I go tearing my car apart.

[e30Matt]

Is it a rattle or more of a thump?

Could be a rear shock mount or other bushing gone.

[KenC]

It's a thump when I only go over a small bump in the road, and it's a rattle when I drive down a bumpy road. It only happens when I go over bumps. Sounds like something heavy. I never heard it before my new springs were installed.
Jordan said my rear shock mounts were in great shape. I should take the carpet off and check them out and see if they're still bolted in tightly. I also removed the rubber dust caps off of the top of them too.

[e30Matt]

Look up through the wheel well at them, see if they have any cracks and whatnot in them.

How old are they?

[KenC]

Look up through the wheel well at them, see if they have any cracks and whatnot in them.

How old are they?

Aren't the rear shock mounts just part of the unibody? As of Saturday when the new springs were installed the mounts looked great.

[Jordan]

the RSM's were mint, nothing wrong with them.

check the 13's that hold them in place, maybe you didn't tighten one of those enough?

[DanGillan]

ken,

i had the same exact problem when i did my suspension. at first i thought it was my jack and shit hitting and making noise because of the stiffer suspension, but it was one of the RSM's not tightened enough. I bolted it down tighter and problem solved, no issues since then.

[Jordan]

Yeah, the RSM's were something you tightened Ken. I know that anything I tightened is TIGHT. I would give them a quick turn and see what happens

[UNHCLL]

$5 says Jordan installed the spring upside down and sideways....

:roll: ;)

[e30Matt]

$5 says Jordan installed the spring upside down and sideways....

:roll: ;)

:nice:

[KenC]

ken,

i had the same exact problem when i did my suspension. at first i thought it was my jack and shit hitting and making noise because of the stiffer suspension, but it was one of the RSM's not tightened enough. I bolted it down tighter and problem solved, no issues since then.

LOL, I thought it was the tire iron or jack bouncing around back there. I'll check the RSMs when I get off work in a few minutes... probably my fuckup LOL. I don'r remember rechecking them after we dropped the car off of the jack stands.

[nitro325is]

recently I developed a noise in the front as well.It was a thump when going over bumps and rattle while during sharp turns or at highway speeds.I checked everything and it turned out to be my caliper bracket bolts that were loose.no noise since retorque.

[KenC]

OK, both rear shock mounts are perfectly tight.

Now I should check the two 19mm caliper bolts? I'm 99% sure Jordan torqued them on really well with the air gun.

[modifiede30]

Have you checked the engine compartment for anything loose? You'd probably know if the caliper was loose because you'd hear the clunking sound when you applied the brakes.

[Jordan]

I tightened the caliper bolts by hand, and those were definately tight. I'd look elsewhere.