Noise!

[Pomorza]

Hello all

Yesterday evening my Z began making an increadibly loud and very annoying rattling noise from the rear of the car. I can't remember exactly what time it began but it has, for what I can tell, become worse. The noise, the best I can describe, sounds like, well if you left the door ajar and it was rattling. It does it, really randomly, but when the road is uneven and bumpy the noise is always there. I've jack the back of the car up and shook, moved and really done anything and everything to get the noise to occur but nothing. I took the rear pannel off to discover that the antenna was, well just hanging there and in pieces. I fixed this thinking it was the noise but nope.

I've jumped on the car and pushed the car up in an attempt to get the noise to occur but still nothing. I have noticed that the rear left - the area where the noise is coming from - tire does drop a bit further down then the right side. I've looked at the strut mount from both the top and felt it on the side, its still there for what I can tell and in one piece. Does anyone have ANY ideas what this can be? Blown shock? Any ideas. I run eibach lowering spring all around and tociko blues. I did the suspension two and a half and 15,000 miles ago.

Thanks guys

Jan

[Oiluj]

Sounds like a loose exhaust, but also look at the strut bolts to see if they are loose. They can "feel" tight with the weight of the car on them, but on the road make noise as the weight changes over bumps. Could also be a failed upper strut mount or a failed shock.

[Pomorza]

Oiluj

Checked the torque on all the bolts on the inside, both the mounting bolts (25 lb ft) and the strut lock nut (the big arse one 60 lb ft). Nothing still there. Check the exhaust by moving it every direction I could think of, nothing. I put the Z on the jack again (lifted it by the diffy) and moved the left tire and wheel around in every manner I could think of. I've never had a car with struts, could the shock be completely dead already? I mean I'm pretty hard on my suspension but 15k is pretty low on shocks isn't it? Is it safe to drive it like this? I mean I have to drive like 200 miles tomorrow for a wedding, its not going to kill something is it?

Thanks

Jan

[olzed]

Wheel bearing perhaps.???

[madkaw]

Noises are always a pain because the noise can travel around the car and mislead you. Sounds like a loose strut , but you said the gland nut was tight. Not sure if a bad shock would produce a rattle sound. When you installed the struts you were SURE the and nuts bottomed out on the shock and not the threads on the nut. Not sure why you would just now start hearing the noise, but that's what it sounds like.

I've noticed that it takes very little movement on any part to produce noises on these cars. A diff mount bolt on the moustache bar will cause a clunk if its a half a turn loose.

Anyway it could be your hatch adjustment is loose and the hatch is rattling.

[siteunseen]

Like some comedian said, be glad your not in an airplane when you hear a bump. Cars you can pull over and fix it with a coat hanger.

[rcb280z]

I remember chasing a rattle and it took a few days to find it. Ended up being the wood flap (can't remember proper name) that covers the spare tire. Somehow one of the felt strips had fallen off and it was rattling around on the metal bracket.

[Pomorza]

Thanks mates

What confuses me is that it just started out of the blue. I mean if I had a loose strut mount, or loose bolts or loose gland nut (which is tight also) I would think this noise would have been on going for a while now, as its been 2+ years. I've tried shaking the crap out of the car while it was on the ground to reproduce the sound (lifing it up and down side to side etc). With no luck. I'll jack the back end up again today before I go on my trip and make sure all is tight. The sound, sounds more like the hatch is loose or something and no a suspension issue. I'll see what I can find.

Thanks

Jan

Edited July 13, 2013 by Pomorza

[Pomorza]

Ok update.

I took literally everything out of the rear of the car, the spare tire, the hatch support from that side and anything loose that was in the back. The sound is still there. I do have a question, it if was indeed the struts wouldn't it feel different then all the other sides? I mean I went around my car and lifted each side the same height ~ 3 inches and let it drop. All four corners had the same rebound point. Madkaw, if the strut mount was bad or the strut wasn't bolted all the way wouldn't I be able to move it with the car in the air, at least some amoutn? I mean I was yanking the crap out of this suspension yesterday, to the point where it nearly fell off the jackstands. The rear seals on my Z are pretty, er..no existant so could it be that? I'm going to have the hatch off here in a few weeks to do them, whats the best way to make sure its lined up correctly?

Thanks

Jan

[madkaw]

When you say rear seals, your talking weather stripping right?

If they are gone, then the hatch could have play in it. The hatch should be a spring fit on the seal. I would adjust it down tight on the latch so it takes some force to latch and see if that changes anything.

Nothing has to be too loose to make noise, so you don't always feel anything when you yank on it. It's hard to duplicate driving conditions. All the strut has to move is a 1/32" and it would make noise.

[Pomorza]

Yes by seals I mean the weatherstripping. Its farily bad on the very rear (dead in the center) I can see day light out of it when the hatch is closed.

[Carl Beck]

Take a torque wrench - and tighten the two big nuts - which should be on big washers - that hold the differential to the mustache bar. If they are at all loose.. it will make a pretty loud noise.

FWIW,

Carl B.