Found culprit - Annoying Rattle above right rear wheel '87 5ktqa

[Ben Swann]

After tearing too much apart, I got a friend to shake the car up and down
and duplicate the noise.  I was then able to put my finger on it,
literally.

I turned out to be the bolts that fasten the subframe to the chassis.  They
were not obviously loose, and the movement could not be located visibly,
but feeling around, I found movement.  Tightened them up and the car now
feels like a new car.  I have been living with this annoying problem now
for over a year and had a heck of a time locating it.

I think over time (170kmiles now), the working of the subframe against the
chassis required they be retightened.  It got to the point where this noise
made the car sound like it was falling apart in the rear.  In the end it
was so simple.

Ben

[No, that would be too simple.

I just tore the inside cover off.  There is nothing there that can cause
the rattle.

I went underneath and pulled the inner wheel well cover off.  I thought it
might be the fuel tank hose which is metal and passes through the frame.  I
put some padding in there, but did not see where it would be rubbing and
could not make it rattle.  Test drive reveals that is not it.

It is something loose, possible between the gas tank and the trunk area.
 It is really annoying in that this car is just about perfect except for
this rattle/clunking that is very pronounced - metal to metal.

I also wonder how the rear trans. mount may be contributing.  It looks
good, but has aged.

I'm about to remove the pan underneath the fuel tank and check further.

Appreciate any BTDT on this type of noise.

Ben]

On Monday, October 21, 2002 1:54 PM, Mark Vogt [SMTP:mwvogt at mindspring.com]
wrote:
> See if the rear washer bottle is loose.
>
> Ben Swann wrote:
>
> >QPhile,
> >
> >I have been trying to track down the cause of this annoying rattle which
> >eminates from around or above the strut but inside the car ( I think).
 I
> >had my wife drive with me in the cargo area - got some good laughs about
> >husband in trunk I'm sure.
> >
> >I just replaced the struts and all hardware.  The original rubber looked
> >new, so was unnecessary, but I have eliminated that as  a culprit.  The
> >noise actually got worse since I installed Koni Yellows which are firm,
but
> >the originals needed replacement for sure.
> >
> >Now I am about to tear apart the inside wheel well cover to see if I can
> >ID, but would appreciate if someone else has BTDT, or if I am missing
> >somthing outside the car.  I have looked underneath and can't find
anything
> >that is loose or would cause the rattle.
> >
> >Ben
> >'87 5ktq avant
> >(3) 4kq's - red '84, silver '85(GTQ) and '85 Black Beater
> >Beautiful Blue GT coupe for sale
> >
> >