[325i2NV]

HELP!!!!

About a week now I have been hearing a rattle noise (metal on metal) everytime there is a bump on the road. I've been under the car and I can't see anything that is loose, I've hit and moved my exhaust system around and it doesn't produce the noise. The sound seems like it is coming fron the right side of the bimmer.

Any ideas guys, need help getting really pissed off with the noise
:angry: :angry: :angry:

 

[Fox]

front or rear? left or right?

 

[325i2NV]

the noise sound like it is coming form the right side closer to the back of the bimmer

 

[Ski]

Happened to me also, but it was the front right..it was a missing caliper clip, 10 dollar replacement..go check your calipers and see if you got a 6 inch longated clip missing..

 

[Guest]

seems to be a common problem with e36's becuase i recall having that same problem...it drove me insane, as you can tell :w00t

 

[e36_m3_Turbo]

this is dumb but do u think it could be the trunk? some of the metal loose somewhere?

 

[BlackTape]

your control arm bushing is bad...

 

[325i2NV]

I'm not miss any caliper clips, and the noise is not coming from the trunk. I can only hear the noise when I have the windows down and, quite when windows up.

As for RedTape's suggestion (bad control arm bushings) in the back? I removed the tires and looked at the bushes and they look fine....

any more suggestion???

 

[triggrhaapi]

check out the entire rear end of the car, it could be anything from a loose nut in the spare tire well to a damaged differential. That's one of those non-specific symptoms that drives mechanics nuts.

 

[SoonerE39]

Mine has a slight metal on metal sort of a "jiggle" sound. Finally isolated it to the shift linkage. Haven't fixed it. Figure I'll live with it until I decide to put in a SSK

 

[DesmoBob]

Originally posted by 325i2NV@May 12 2003, 03:11 AM
the noise sound like it is coming form the right side closer to the back of the bimmer

check your rear shock mounts.

 

[325i2NV]

is there anyway of checking the rear shock mounts without actually removing it?

 

[Furious]

i dunno what year your car is but it looks pre-1995 if its a 1993 or 1992 its a common problem to have a subframe failure.
here is some info on the subframe failure...the problem is that the right (and eventually the left)
rear sub frame where the control arm is mounted to the body may be
susceptible to fatigue (especially on cars with modified suspensions
and/or race tires). Apparently the "hat" that is spot welded to the
unibody and the three bolts that are welded through it can pull out.
This eventually leads to a total failure of the surrounding sheet metal
and/or hat resulting in costly repairs

shock mounts , geibo disk, tranny mounts, the jack not properly seated in its craddle in the spare well, are all things you should check into

 

[325i2NV]

thanks Furious for the info..

I have a few more question to help me look for the problem:
1) control arms is the piece mounted from the rear hub assembly to the piece just under the rear differential?
2) Trailing arms (piece connecting the rear hubs to each side)?
3) if I were to hold onto the shock and move it from side to side should there be any play(movement), How will I know if the shock mounts are still good?
4) what else can I look and test for when I'm under the car?


I just want to be clear and look at the right location

 

[Fox]

well... do what he said and no shock play. Similar thing... but not technical problem. The lug cover on my e30, the basketweave center plate, you know what im talkin about right matt? Its always rattling around, sounds like i have a 5 lbs flywheel with madd chatter. Its pissing me off, whenever i drive down this one dirt road one of them is sure to fly off. Anyone figure away to secure them tell me. I was thinkin just slammin silly putty in there cause its pissing me off.

 

[Furious]

Originally posted by Fox@May 14 2003, 06:47 AM
well... do what he said and no shock play. Similar thing... but not technical problem. The lug cover on my e30, the basketweave center plate, you know what im talkin about right matt? Its always rattling around, sounds like i have a 5 lbs flywheel with madd chatter. Its pissing me off, whenever i drive down this one dirt road one of them is sure to fly off. Anyone figure away to secure them tell me. I was thinkin just slammin silly putty in there cause its pissing me off.

ya i have some serious chatter under my hood too.

325i2NV if i were you and your not too sure . you should take it quickly to the mechanic and just see what he can help you with advice wise. it shouldnt cost you anything and youll understand more than a bunch of words on a computer screen , i usually learn my shit when im at my mechanics shop, ill be under the hood with them for hours at a time trying to learn as much as i can.