Rattling coming from rear of car.

[ViperRider]

Lately, I've been noticing a rattling sound coming from the back of the car. When the car is idling you can hear it coming from the back. When I open the hatch and listen closer it sounds like it is coming from the area of the spare tire. I opened up and the jack and tire were tight, but still rattling. It sounds like it coming from underneath the car. I looked under and nothing seems to look loose, then again I'm no mechanic. It doesn't rattle when I am driving, only sometimes when I go over speed bumps slowly. Any ideas?

[RadRacer]

Re: Rattling coming from rear of car.

pull the spare, jack, etc out one day and take it for a spin.

[eternal]

Re: Rattling coming from rear of car.

is it a loud banging kind of rattle? can u here it in reverse? it could be ur cat is old and banging around inside. i would take it somewhere that has a lift ( local grease monkey ect.) let it idle on the lift and trouble shoot.

[whitdog54]

Re: Rattling coming from rear of car.

LCAs maybe

rad racer were you the one who was having the problem with LCAa and solved it with new bushings?

[ViperRider]

Re: Rattling coming from rear of car.

LCAs maybe

rad racer were you the one who was having the problem with LCAa and solved it with new bushings?

What are LCA's?

The rattling isn't that loud, it is hard to hear over the exhaust (stock) when I am looking under the car.

I doubt it is the spare but I will try tomorrow.

Edit: Yes I can hear it in reverse.

[pace2006]

Re: Rattling coming from rear of car.

LCAs = Lower control arms

[Blizzard242]

Re: Rattling coming from rear of car.

My brother had the same problem with his car. When I bought the car from him I installed some tubular LCAs and I've never noticed it. So perhaps you might need some new bushings.

[RadRacer]

Re: Rattling coming from rear of car.

whitdog, I did fix my noise; replaced the bushings with Moog's and it's gone, along with better traction :). This was going to be my next suggestion after the spare tire. Once I got the LCA's out, you can see that the stock bushings are star-shaped in the center, allowing for alot of movement; the replacement Moog bushings are solid round instead of star-shaped.

[ViperRider]

Re: Rattling coming from rear of car.

How could I test this myself to see if it is the LCA making this noise?

[RadRacer]

Re: Rattling coming from rear of car.

Mine was really loose; I noticed when I jacked up the rear of my car by that you could move the LCA by hand.

[pace2006]

Re: Rattling coming from rear of car.

x2 on the Moog bushings. A cheap way to reduce body roll without the binding that most aftermarket LCAs cause.

[Frechles71]

Re: Rattling coming from rear of car.

Another bit of food for thought.

How is your exhaust shield? On mine one of the mounting tabs on mine rotted away and causes a bit of a rattle at idle.

[ViperRider]

Re: Rattling coming from rear of car.

I am going to have to go to the dealer to get it checked out...seems like its getting louder. :(