Club 80-90 Forums

Morning All, Just wondering if anyone could shed some light on a rather odd rattle thats appeared under the front of the van.

It sounds like a loose bolt rattling through sheet steel. Like a tinkling more than a clunk.

Its not constant, but does not do it any more under hard acceleration, or cornering.

I've had the van in the air and given pretty much everything a wiggle but cannot replicate the sound.

Spare down too, and checked the carrier and bars above it.

When driving it sounds like the noise originates from under the passenger seat box, although there is noting in there ratting and no chair at the moment either (I have got to find this noise, its driving me crackers)

Any pointers gratefully recieved...


Chris

? upper wishbone bolt - the upper wishbone bishes usually squeak when tired, but if bolt is loose that could rattle

Thanks Aidan, I'll have a look at them later, see if that could be the root of it.

They clatter rather than tinkle ... but I guess that's more your definition of 'Tinkle'

My dad's Reliant tinkles, it's the tip of the fan blade touching the matrix on the radiator.

Hi,

Have you tried getting the van up on axle stands and giving the variuos suspension parts a good whack with a rubber mallet?

I've had suspension parts that pass the 'grab and shake' test, but squeek/knock under the much higher loads of the van on a pot-holed road. Found a good whack (making sure the van is very well supported) can show up parts moving whene the shouldn't...

Good luck, hope you find it before you have to start driving round with ear plugs in.....

Cheers,

Alex

how would i hear the noise over the clang of the mallet hitting the suspension?

Hi,

You're right, you wouldn't necessarliy hear the noise, but you would be able to see if bits are moving that shouldn't be, whic may help you track down what is making the noise....

Cheers,

alex

hi,

just a quick question,does your van have front mudflaps?the reason i'm asking is when i first bought mine i had a rattle from under the passenger seat area too and it was really annoying when driving. it turned out to be the mudflap clamp that holds the mudflap to the inner wheel arch.not on the main arch itself but on the metal reinforcing strip that runs along the mudflap. not the greatest description i know but its like 2 half domed washers with serrations that clamp together and grp the lip of the bottom of the front bulkhead area. a long shot i know but maybe worthtaking a look

The rattle you discribe i have one like yours.As Aidan suggested i checked to see if the wish bone bolt is loose but the nut is tight.Ive had this tapping & ratlle off and on for months and its more when the outside temp is warmer rather than cold.So i am thinking could it be the plastic front grill or the head lamp surround grill covering the rad?.The grills do have movement where they are screwed and are more flexable in warm temps.So i guess they could rattle or tap against the front panel and the noise heard in the cab.

Thanks guys, no mudflaps, and grills are all nice and secure, i'll see if i can get it up in the air and see what the score is with the wishbone bolts..

Anything loose, rattling around inside the spare wheel eg. wheel brace or jack?

No mate, its all been off and checked, nothing but the spare there, and not the bars above it either..

Have you got metal hub caps?? could be a stone in one of them. It happend to me

far too much of a heavy noise to be a stone, think it could be a bush, maybe the top wishbone one as people suggest, or maybe the ARB D-Bush