Annoying noise

[Joe PR5]

I have been meaning to take the whole strut out but I have not had a chance.. I did check the 2 bolts on the bottem of the strut, they are tight? When I first heard the noise, I had my freind drive the car while I sat in the back and i put my hang on the top bolt and it felt like there was play(up and Down) but I dont know how to get rid of the play.. I think I may through an extra washer in and maybe that will hold it tight.. I will post anything ASAP..Hope you will all do the same!

 

[haig]

Pics

For those who want to see many pics, check out this thread...

http://www.protege5.com/vbb225/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25678

 

[blackp5ca]

Damn Damn Damn..
Alright..I tore that car apart last night, re-assembled and tighned everything a little higher than it's torque spec and that noise is still there. I tried to wiggle, shake and bump anything I could see to determine where the noise is coming from but not to be found...think I'll just have to turn the radio up!

 

[garretts77]

I feel the same way. I so want to find the noise, but everything that I touched during installation is tight. Unless somebody knows what it is, I am out of ideas...

 

[thewrench]

Has anyone tried taking out the interior and then driving around, just to make sure it's not a plastic panel or something rattling? Every now and then I still get a little buzz, but I know a couple of the plastic pegs are not very tight, so the panels rattle if I hit a bump just right, but it goes away afer more bumps. Just an idea.

James T

 

[Matthew]

no i think its something with the seatbelt assembly, at least i think it is

 

[garretts77]

Mine definately isn't a plastic rattle. There is metal for sure...

 

[Matthew]

yea but the bulk of the assembly is metal i think

 

[haig]

Has anyone tried taking out the interior and then driving around, just to make sure it's not a plastic panel or something rattling? Every now and then I still get a little buzz, but I know a couple of the plastic pegs are not very tight, so the panels rattle if I hit a bump just right, but it goes away afer more bumps. Just an idea.

James T

That's a good idea, however I believe most of us are hearing a metal on metal noise, which would eliminate that theory...

 

[garretts77]

To me, in my car at least, I usually hear it when the R/R wheel gets light, like on the downside of a speed bump. This morning I was coming off of an offramp that makes a right turn. About half way around the road is a little rough on the inside potrion of the road. When the R/R wheel hit this rough portion, it made a rattle, like the spring was rattling slightly against the spring retainers. It seems like there should be enough tension to hold the spring against the both the top and bottom retainer at all times, so I am very possibly, and probably wrong. It isn't like it has all kinds of room to move around, and when I jack up the car and try to shake the spring, I can't make it move, but that is what it feels like from the drivers seat, and that is what it sounds like. A metal on metal rattle. Which brings me to the next question. If it really is the spring rattling around inside of the retainer, shouldn't that rubber gasket thing silence that type of noise? And Why is it only on the R/R. The R/L is the exact same spring...

 

[garretts77]

I love the springs, though. Between the springs and the wheels/tires, the car handles Great!

 

[Joe PR5]

I dont know why its just the right rear.. My father thinks it just how to do with the way is changes the stock geometry of the car.. Its just crazy how we all have the same noise from the same types of bumps..? I have to rotate my tires today, hopefully it will stop raining so I can find out whats going on.. I have been trying all week, just not enough time..

 

[Joe PR5]

The Answer is now HERE!!!!.. Come one Come all.. Ok this worked on my car today(p5).. it should work for everyone here.. I Had a Idea and it worked.. The fix takes about 15min, 2 washers, a 9/16 socket wrench or a regular wrench and an other one, I dont know what size.. Ok, the stock strut bolt does not have enought threads on them once you put your lowering springs on.. So you can tighten as much as you want but its not going anywere..

1) take off seat belt,
2)take of rubber cap and top bolt, now you can see the threads end just befor the bowl shape washer
3) find washers which fit, Put them onto of the bowl shape washer and make sure the threads dont end b4 washer,,, (see Pics In next reply)

4)tighten the top bolt and put on the rubber thing.... HOPE IT WORKS FOR YOU

 

[Joe PR5]

This is the top of the strut without the bowl shape washer, see how the threads stop.. BAD BAD

 

[Joe PR5]

This is what it should look like b4 u put on the top nut.. God luck everyone.. I think this should work.. I drove my car around and did not hear a thing..

 

[Matthew]

so how many washers did you use in all? did you have to take off that bowl shaped nut thing, or did you just take it off to show us?

 

[Joe PR5]

its BOWL SHAPE, then as many washers as u need to make sure the thread does not end. .. Look at the 3rd pic i posted

 

[Matthew]

ok, i see, so basically without the washers the bolt is suspended a bit above the retaining bowl nut, and does no good

 

[Joe PR5]

Im going to check the rest for the struts around the car today.. I think they all may need washers?? The RR, may have been the only one with the big problem, the others may be just a little loose

 

[Matthew]

can you tell me what size washers they are so i can go and buy them and not have to take apart my seatbelt s*** twice?