Z4MR Rattle in the rear offside

[99ron]

Greetings.
I have a really annoying rattle coming from over my right shoulder that I can hear on rough surfaces at low speeds (for instance driving in and out of the road to the house). Hard to describe but think of a pot of boiling water with a metal lid rattling away somewhere in the back. I thought at first maybe the battery cover in the boot or the mobility kit sat on top of it but have tightened that up and removed the kit but it still rattles. Don't notice it as much with the roof down. Any known areas I should investigate?

cheers
Gary.

 

[Crusoe]

sounds like a broken spring, top half coil or so cracks off leaving it to rattle around, worth checking your exhaust isn't a bit loose too.

 

[99ron]

Cheers. It had H&R springs fitted just a couple of months ago before I bought it so I'd hope not but will check and check the exhaust.

 

[Crusoe]

How are your bushes, rear trailing arm bushes tend to make a metal clonk when the rubber has perished.

 

[99ron]

Thanks for the tips. I have heard worn bushes noises before and clunk is the right description for that but this seems more of a rattle though like something is loose. Only hear it on the move. Might have to get it into my Indie and see what he can find. It's too damn cold to go jacking it up. cheers.

 

[99ron]

Had to drive down a very bumpy gravelly track today (very slowly) which made the rear rattle like crazy. I tried pulling the handbrake on whilst still moving (not locking the wheels) and the noise stopped!
My handbrake is very weak anyway so it feels like it may be badly adjusted. Wonder if a slack handbrake could be rattling?
I'll have to get that checked and report back.

 

[simonlpearce]

Its possible that one of the shoes is a bit lose, so could be that it needs adjusting or replacing.

 

[TDJ]

Check your backbox mounts:

 

[99ron]

Bumping my old thread just to update with what I found for anyone else looking in the future. I put up with the rattle for a while but it seemed to get worse lately. Could not find anything wrong but suspected RTABs as the car seemed to move a bit under acceleration (but it always had since I bought it) and anyway I planned to fit some Turner Motorsport limiters so thought I might as well put in some new bushes at the same time.
So just had that done and what a difference. No rattles and the car drives so much better - not so much of a handful under power!
As a bonus my handbrake used to need a double pull to get the right tension but that seems to be fixed now as well. My indie said he hadn't done anything specifically to fix that.

Anyway...I'm sooo happy!

 

[MikeMcG]

Out of interest, where did you get the limiters from, did you have to buy from the US and pay the crazy postage?

 

[99ron]

I looked at that but factoring in all the costs it didn't seem any cheaper to me and delivery is longer. I thought the postage might be high because it included the import VAT due but I don't think it does. Anyhow CA technologies and Simpsons seemed to be about the same price in the UK, delivered (around £109 ish) so I went with CA Technologies simply because I could order online whereas Simpsons website is pretty useless. Bought some Meyle bushes from ECP for £24 and all fitted for 2.5 hrs labour.