All my squeaks and rattles... getting on my nerves

**Naaman** · 01-22-2011, 10:00 PM

I've had the car since last April and there have been certain sounds that the car makes in certain circumstances. I've discovered the source of one of the sounds. Every time I hit any kind of turbulance, I get two sounds. One of them is the antenna being shaken by the bump. There is a piece at the base of the antenna that is loose and if I rotate it to just the right spot, it will sit tight and not rattle/shake.

The other sound is one that I always attributed to the aftermarket suspension being stiffer than stock (I bought the car with the suspension already on it; I've never driven a 4th gen on a stock suspension). It's a heavy duty Bilstien adjustable. But, I only hear it at the rear, passenger side wheel. Since I don't hear it on both sides, I'm wondering if it's a faulty set up. It's a somewhat percussive sound. From inside the car, it sounds a lot like knuckles knocking softly on wood. I detect no drivability problems, but I have no frame of reference for comparison.

Anyone know what the issue is?

**Smittro** · 01-22-2011, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by Naaman

I've had the car since last April and there have been certain sounds that the car makes in certain circumstances. I've discovered the source of one of the sounds. Every time I hit any kind of turbulance, I get two sounds. One of them is the antenna being shaken by the bump. There is a piece at the base of the antenna that is loose and if I rotate it to just the right spot, it will sit tight and not rattle/shake.

The other sound is one that I always attributed to the aftermarket suspension being stiffer than stock (I bought the car with the suspension already on it; I've never driven a 4th gen on a stock suspension). It's a heavy duty Bilstien adjustable. But, I only hear it at the rear, passenger side wheel. Since I don't hear it on both sides, I'm wondering if it's a faulty set up. It's a somewhat percussive sound. From inside the car, it sounds a lot like knuckles knocking softly on wood. I detect no drivability problems, but I have no frame of reference for comparison.

Anyone know what the issue is?

Tighten the antenna collar nut..

It's the washer looking thing with the 4 grooves (not the 5/16 antenna post itself) but below it.. The actual threw body mount..

You may have to keep the other side from turning when you tighten the collar nut..

To the other sound.

Possibly a driver rear axle bearing going out.

Or the parting brake ring and pad/shoe may be damaged.. Just my .02

**Blackbird WS6** · 01-22-2011, 10:14 PM

what kind of bushing does your susp. use?

**JayTA98** · 01-23-2011, 06:14 AM

could it be that the LCA's bushings are bad or dry? or maybe loose? Have you check the rear shock bushings and looked to see if they are not damaged?

**FMBL** · 01-23-2011, 06:48 AM

Our 98 was lowered when we got it. It had alot of horrible sounds. The biggest problems I had was bump stops on the rear were shot and the PO just threw the spare tire and jack in the rear well. Once The jack and the spare were secured it felt like a new car (almost).

**JayTA98** · 01-23-2011, 06:57 AM

Mine has an annoying rattle. i found out that is the plastic piece on the hatch close the top of it. Is that 2 piece plastic piece that is close to the interior light but on the hatch. If I put pressure on it while someone drives the car the noise stops.

**cammed goat** · 01-23-2011, 07:27 AM

I know there are some F-Bodies out there with rears which are slightly off center. I dunno if it's a worn panhard bar bushing causing the noise. Keep us posted.

**Smittro** · 01-23-2011, 08:01 AM

Originally Posted by cammed goat

I know there are some F-Bodies out there with rears which are slightly off center. I dunno if it's a worn panhard bar bushing causing the noise. Keep us posted.

Most f-bodies rearends favor the drivers side iirc..

**Blackbird WS6** · 01-23-2011, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Smittro

Most f-bodies rearends favor the drivers side iirc..

this be true

**JayTA98** · 01-23-2011, 10:49 AM

do you hear any noises when you go over a bump or uneven road?

**Naaman** · 01-23-2011, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Blackbird-WS6

what kind of bushing does your susp. use?

No idea. I found the instructions for the front suspension (Koni) in the service recordfs, but no literature for the rear Bilstiens. I'll have to check my service manual to see if I can figure it out based on stock parts.

**01SsRacing** · 01-23-2011, 11:23 AM

I have the Bilstien that comes on the car from slp and when I go over a rough part in the road the rattle from the rear is very noisy but i just figure thats just part of having a car like this

**Naaman** · 01-24-2011, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by JayTA98

do you hear any noises when you go over a bump or uneven road?

Yeah. It's most noticeable on the softer shallower bumps (maybe because these bumps are otherwise quiet, which makes the sound more noticeable). For example, if I'm driving on a "bumpy" part of the free way, I hear it at every little bump (the very, very gentle bumps). There is a particular part of I-5 here near Seattle that is exceptionally smooth (can't even hear the friction of the tires on the road). It feels like I'm driving a Cadillac. But on roads that are just a little less than average smoothness, I hear it.

Other than this sound, there are no symptoms that I can detect by driving the car.

**JayTA98** · 01-24-2011, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by Naaman

Yeah. It's most noticeable on the softer shallower bumps (maybe because these bumps are otherwise quiet, which makes the sound more noticeable). For example, if I'm driving on a "bumpy" part of the free way, I hear it at every little bump (the very, very gentle bumps). There is a particular part of I-5 here near Seattle that is exceptionally smooth (can't even hear the friction of the tires on the road). It feels like I'm driving a Cadillac. But on roads that are just a little less than average smoothness, I hear it.

Other than this sound, there are no symptoms that I can detect by driving the car.

Now if the noise is been there since you had the car take in consideration that you have aftermarket suspension part on it. These stiff the suspension and you will feel the road more. I have experienced that since I replace my panhard, LCA's, Torque Arm and put SFC. You can check the bump stops like suggested and see if they are bad. See if you can get someone to drive the car and sit on the back sit to make sure is coming from the passenger side only. Have you checked the bushings of the shocks, panhard, LCA's? Check your torque arm also. Is the car lowered?

**01SsRacing** · 01-24-2011, 04:16 PM

speaking of the bump stops when I had my new rims put on like two months ago both rear bump stops are gone nothing left of them and I only just hit 33,000 mile on it. so idk what happen to them.

**cammed goat** · 01-24-2011, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by 01SsRacing

speaking of the bump stops when I had my new rims put on like two months ago both rear bump stops are gone nothing left of them and I only just hit 33,000 mile on it. so idk what happen to them.

They could have fallen out or rotted away.

**01SsRacing** · 01-24-2011, 05:32 PM

im thinking they just rotted away do i need to worry about this?

**JayTA98** · 01-24-2011, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by 01SsRacing

im thinking they just rotted away do i need to worry about this?

well is not critical but the rear end will hit metal to metal if it compresses the shock that much. If the car is lowered I will get them replaced. Alot of members including myself put the ES ones since the GM ones are discontinued. The ES one are made of poly but the work nice with a small modification and they are pretty cheap.

**FMBL** · 01-24-2011, 05:55 PM

Double check the spare tire compartment and make sure everything there is tight. A loose spare tire sounds like the rearend is going to fall out from under the car when you hit a bump.

**01SsRacing** · 01-24-2011, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by JayTA98

well is not critical but the rear end will hit metal to metal if it compresses the shock that much. If the car is lowered I will get them replaced. Alot of members including myself put the ES ones since the GM ones are discontinued. The ES one are made of poly but the work nice with a small modification and they are pretty cheap.