One more question if you don't mind.

[Andy Sherlock]

I have a rattle in my R4 that I have been trying to find for about 3 years. It appears to be coming from somewhere around the front of the passenger footwell. It happens when the suspension is on the rebound. It does not happen when there is a passanger in the car, making it impossible to sit and listen while someone else drives,
I cannot find anything loose on the suspension, anywhere. Maybe it's the suspension, maybe it's not. I have tried and tried and tried with this one, and still cannot find it.
It does not sound like a heavy metal rattle, more say a bolt or something under tension releasing every now and then producing an annoying rattle. I'm desperate to find this before whatever it is gives or breaks (if ever) and I have an ex rattle and some breakage that I then can't find.

Anyone had a similar problem or got any suggestions?

Regards,

Andy.

 

[malcolm]

Can you describe the rattle in some more detail? I would think of a rattle as something that repeats a few times and sounds like something is contacting backwards and forwards with something else. A knock is somewhat heavier like two bits banging together but doesn't repeat, though a double knock will repeat once. A tizz is lighter but repeats at a much greater frequency than a rattle (almost a buzz caused by two bits vibrating close together and touching often). Then there's a creak which is can sound like a repeating rattle, but the start and stop points are more sharply defined, and is characteristic of parts sliding against one another.

How loud is it? Could it be something banging against the floor, or does it sound like something inside the car? Also is the problem going over sharp bumps or can you reproduce it on long bumps that would compress the suspension, or by going around corners?

Interesting that the passenger influences it. Passenger seat isn't loose is it? Otherwise can you hear the problem but just at a lower level when the passenger is in place?

 

[Andy Sherlock]

It sounds like something tapping at the very front of the passanger floor, once only and with each rebound of the suspension, but on larger bumps only. It is not loud, maybe a cross between a tap and a knock, given your descriptions.

By putting a board under the wheel and then 'crowbar-ing' the board (and wheel) up and down I can replicate the sound, which again occurs on the rebound, but only with a sudden jerk to the rebound, When I do this, I can just hear the sound, but I can't locate it.

I have to say, it is really doing my head in!

My wife can't even hear it, and doesn't understand my frustration.

Regards,
Andy.

 

[pepper]

Is it the torsion bar bumping against the flor pan?

On mine it has little rubber bumpers to try and stop this a little.

 

[Andy Sherlock]

Thanks, but no, It's not the torsion bar on the floor pan, the rubber buffer is doing its job. Any other ideas?

 

[malcolm]

Claude Van Rouge had something that sounds similar. That was the anti-roll bar mounting that bolts to the chassis. Bolts were loose.

Does sound like it's coming from the suspension. My best guess would be a dry balljoint. Possibly the top one. If you could have someone else crowbar the suspension while you feel various parts of the suspension you ought to be able to feel the tap as a vibration. The vibration will be strongest at the problem part.

 

[Andy Sherlock]

Thanks, I'm going to do just that, hopefully this or next weekend. I'll get a friend to do the business with the crow bar, while I trap my fingers in the suspension! Failing that, the guy at the garage who helps me out has a rolling road, If I can convince him that strapping a brick to his rollers is a good idea then we might find someting then!
Regards.
Andy.