EXHAUST RATTLE DRIVING ME NUTS!!

[JVT007]

Ok this has to be the biggest pain in the rear (no pun intended) that I have had in my life ever....

When I stop giving my car some throttle (slow down or completley stop) my exhaust starts rattling like a mufuh... I give it a little gas and it stops but then comes back!! It keeps getting louder too!!!!!!!! Help!!!! What can I do to stop this? Where should I look for something! Please I am going to drop kick my exhaust for real!

[John_D.]

Could be anywhere... If it's a thumping rattle, then the pipe is probably touching something like the floor pan, or the cross brace, in the driveshaft tunnel area. If it's a lighter, higher pitched rattle, it's probably a heat shield, check around the catalytic converter area. If it's in the back, check in the area of the two rubber hangers for the muffler, and make sure the exhaust or the muffler is not hitting on one of the brackets back there.

[1stunna]

same thing happend to me, just go back to where u got it on and have them raise it up an inch and it will be fine. that sound really pissed me off

[JVT007]

yeah maybe i'll just pay to get some tips on it and have them check it out... its driving me nuts!!!!!

[97CamaroV6]

I had a funny metallic rattle and it turned out to be this little piece of sheet metal on the exhaust pipe before the muffler. I believe it serves as a heat shield, but it's not necessary. If that is what's making the noise then you can either take it off or put a c-clamp around it like I did. Good luck.

[JVT007]

OMG Please help me its so embarassing! I figured it is loose because when I pushed up on it while it was rattling it stopped.

How can I tighten it up? Tell me something! Which bolt do I tighten!!!!!!

[John_D.]

What did you push up on?

The muffler? It is suspended by 2 rubber hangers. You can push the muffler up, even when new, because of these. The rattle is probably from a pipe being up against part of the car somewhere.

With the car off, and the exhaust cooled off, get under there and push up, and see what is touching/not-touching when you move it around. Then figure out how to make it not touch anymore...

If it is just a loose part in the exhaust itself, instead of the pipe touching the car somewhere, you should be able to see that too.