Metal Rattle Noise from Rear Right
 

Hello everyone, I seem to be having a noise issue and I cannot determine what is causing it.

The sound seems to be coming from the rear right. It usually only happens when driving slow in 1st and 2nd gear in the 2,000 - 3,000rpm range.

It sounds like a metal Rattle and I have no idea what it could be. Would appreciate any help, thanks in advance!

Is it RPM-related or speed-related? Smooth road or over bumps?

The rattle in that area that I have found was a loose heat shield on the exhaust.
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1689640102.jpg

I think it's more RPM related as I can hear it when driving past things that bounce the sound back (such as barriers). Not as audible when driving fast but I'm pretty sure it's there.

Does it on both flat surfaces and bumpy surfaces.

Thanks! Is it relatively easy to get to and repair?

With the wheel removed it should be easy to access. You can probably use a metal hose clamp to secure it. Welding would be the best repair.

Thanks!

Just a quick update. I had a look under (difficulty I may add as I was on the floor). It appears to be solid, but I had accelerated to the RPM is starts and it's definitely coming from the heat shield area. Could it possibly be that something else it rattling on it?

Ideally having it lifted and looked at is best, but if I'm able to determine where it's coming from and hopefully get it fixed.

It can be very hard to find a rattle like that visually. Often if I am working alone, I'll place a cellphone recording video of the area I want to see or to reach into an area that I can't easily get my eyes.

If you can get it to rattle while slowly revving the engine with the car standing still, I'm still betting that it's the heat shield.

If that shield can be moved at all, it is detached and will rattle.

I think my best bet is to have the car lifted and have look for myself. I was able to get my arm under and give it good shake but it seems rock stiff and in tact. However, I couldn't get to the part above the frame so maybe that's where it needs repairing. Once again, thanks!

Gravel will get inside that exhaust heat shield and cause rattling noises. I ended up removing the heat shields from my exhaust.

On my car these rattled only when hot and did not show movement trying to move by hand when decent temperesture for a touch.
I did replace the downpipes with 200 cpi sport cats. No more rattles.

James, you should get (or borrow) a couple of jack stands and get the rear of the car (safely..!) on the air so you can have the engine running and try to determine where the rattle comes from.

Like suggested by 78F350, if is a heat shield it will be way easier to find, bottom line you need to get your hands a little dirty and you may have to remove the rear exhaust to properly get the heatshield properly welded again. Or better yet get a SpeedArt Sport exhaust, you will get rid of the rattle and get an awesome sound without drone.

Saludos de California :-)

PS: En que parte de España vives?

Don’t forget to look at sway bar links. Mine are rattling

A friend of mine has his own workshop/garage, next week he's kindly going to get the cars' rear up slightly to make it easier to determine where is rattling.

I'm based in the Tarragona area of Catalonia. I'm not Spanish though, I'm British hehe! I am fluent in Spanish though!

Thanks for the help!

Any update?
 

Hi james, I am going through the same issuse, have a terrible rattling sound on the right side somewhere in 2-3k rpm range in 2nd gear, goes away at higher rpm and gears. Could hear it well when the sound gets reflected from a side wall or something as you observed. Could you give us an update on your findings, might help me with my debug.

I had this problem with a loose heat shield on the gilette pipes (secondary cat). A stainless steel zip tie looped around and through the loose shield fixed my problem. The heat shield may not be obviously loose but any ability to twist the shield while cold is an indication that you could have a rattle under other conditions.