Loud Passenger Rear Rattle (Goes away when I lift parking brake!)

[Danothemano]

I have searched this forum and other resources, but unfortunately the threads tend to get hijacked into sway bars and suspension parts.

I have been chasing down a bad right rear rattle in my '02 base. On a bumpy road, it sounds so bad it does seem safe to drive. I could post a clip, but it is just a loud rattle.

IF I lift the parking brake lever, it stops. It is not in the lever assembly. It is at the right rear wheel. I wish I could hang out there to listen to it, but nobody handy can drive a stick.

It is highly unlikely it is anything other than parking brake, as I have replaced all suspension components, axle, tires and brakes. And an inspection does not show anything obvious, other than the parking brake cable was lying on the control arm, as the tie wrap that originally supported it had broken. But I tried hanging it by a new tie wrap with no change. I have also adjusted the parking brake cable (under the console) to the point of dragging and the noise is much quieter.

My next step is going to be removal of the parking brake shoes to see if it goes away. Springs look good tho.

Any suggestions or experience welcome, but please don't send me to the sway bar. I followed that advice, replaced the bushings and drop links with no change. The only thing that stops it is setting the parking brake on two or three clicks (which almost stops the car).

[Gilles]

How many clicks do you have to pull up on the parking brake before the brake engages?
If more than two or three clicks, have you tried adjusting the parking break?

[tcoradeschi]

Short answer (long one, too) is: take it apart. I suspect that once you pull off the rotor, you will know what is wrong.

There is a funky hinged piece which goes on the end of the cable - it cams out to spread the shoes when you engage the brake. Maybe that has come apart?

The guts of the parking brake is a bit of a wrestling match to R&R. I’d almost forgotten how much I detested drum brakes, back in the day, until I redid the shoes and the replaced the piece noted above.

[Starter986]

I've got a similar rattle from the rear... over slightly/regular bumpy roads. On smooth roads the sound goes away... or when I brake.

When I replaced my pads all around I didn't install the dampeners (round dealies that presss onto the back of the pads).

I suspect a brake pad bouncing around. Keep us posted.