Rattle When Hot
Discussion
Sorry if it feels like I’ve posted this before, I actually had a similar thread that turned out to be the offside damper banging in its travel.
So here’s the situation. My car is a 98’ Chimaera 400 on GAZ Monotubes. I’m getting (and had for a few months now) a really bad crunching clatter from the front end when I go over speed bumps and ruts in the road. ONLY when the car is hot (water temp above 85C). It sounds like it’s coming from the nearside to me. It can be felt through the steering and footwell. It’s quite loud and cannot be replicated by bouncing the car by hand.
It is not:
1. Anything to do with the ARB or drop links because that is currently removed to isolate the problem and it’s still happening.
2. Unlikely to be the shocks as they were both sent away to be refurbed by GAZ in the last 9 months.
3. The top nearside wishbone bushes because I changed these this weekend. (For poly ones, heatshielded the rear upper).
The problem does not go away under braking and doesn’t seem to be triggered by steering hard left/ hard right. If anything it’s more prominent when going straight.
I’ve been under the car countless times trying to find play with a crowbar but with no glaring problems. In my head it’s got to be something rubber that’s heating up and becoming more plyable. Even on the shakers at the MOT station we couldn’t find a problem. I’m going to book in with Elmwood TVR but have held of because they can’t see me for a month currently. The car is used every day so any more than a few days off the road is a tad inconvenient but I just don’t care now.
If anybody has any further suggestions I’d be glad to hear them. Car is a dream to drive when cold, but within 10 minutes I’m not enjoying it, not because of this problem itself, but because I can’t solve it. Thanks in advance gents!
So here’s the situation. My car is a 98’ Chimaera 400 on GAZ Monotubes. I’m getting (and had for a few months now) a really bad crunching clatter from the front end when I go over speed bumps and ruts in the road. ONLY when the car is hot (water temp above 85C). It sounds like it’s coming from the nearside to me. It can be felt through the steering and footwell. It’s quite loud and cannot be replicated by bouncing the car by hand.
It is not:
1. Anything to do with the ARB or drop links because that is currently removed to isolate the problem and it’s still happening.
2. Unlikely to be the shocks as they were both sent away to be refurbed by GAZ in the last 9 months.
3. The top nearside wishbone bushes because I changed these this weekend. (For poly ones, heatshielded the rear upper).
The problem does not go away under braking and doesn’t seem to be triggered by steering hard left/ hard right. If anything it’s more prominent when going straight.
I’ve been under the car countless times trying to find play with a crowbar but with no glaring problems. In my head it’s got to be something rubber that’s heating up and becoming more plyable. Even on the shakers at the MOT station we couldn’t find a problem. I’m going to book in with Elmwood TVR but have held of because they can’t see me for a month currently. The car is used every day so any more than a few days off the road is a tad inconvenient but I just don’t care now.
If anybody has any further suggestions I’d be glad to hear them. Car is a dream to drive when cold, but within 10 minutes I’m not enjoying it, not because of this problem itself, but because I can’t solve it. Thanks in advance gents!
Hi Alex,
Have you done anything with the front brakes?
I had a daily driver that did exactly what you are describing... Confused the hell out of me and the garage.
Eventually I discovered and resolved the problem, the "piston side" brake pad is held in by a three legged spring, which due to clumsy, rushed installation (by me) had been sprained... There was just enough movement to allow the pad to rattle. Once I re-set the springs, everything was quiet again..
Neither me or the mechanic who drove the car, heard the noise and then spent ages on the MOT ramp looking for the cause could believe that such a small amount of play could cause that amount of noise...
Just a thought...
Brian (owner of a Griff that lurks on here!)
Have you done anything with the front brakes?
I had a daily driver that did exactly what you are describing... Confused the hell out of me and the garage.
Eventually I discovered and resolved the problem, the "piston side" brake pad is held in by a three legged spring, which due to clumsy, rushed installation (by me) had been sprained... There was just enough movement to allow the pad to rattle. Once I re-set the springs, everything was quiet again..
Neither me or the mechanic who drove the car, heard the noise and then spent ages on the MOT ramp looking for the cause could believe that such a small amount of play could cause that amount of noise...
Just a thought...
Brian (owner of a Griff that lurks on here!)
Has it happened since you sent the dampers away and refitted them?
I had a similar awful noise, in my case a loud double clunk, on my daily Saab, which was a broken spring - the broken ends were clunking as they passed each other, up and then down, when the spring was compressed by the potholes down my lane.
Yours could be a spring flexing on its seat if it's not broken.
I had a similar awful noise, in my case a loud double clunk, on my daily Saab, which was a broken spring - the broken ends were clunking as they passed each other, up and then down, when the spring was compressed by the potholes down my lane.
Yours could be a spring flexing on its seat if it's not broken.
briantvr350i said:
Hi Alex,
Have you done anything with the front brakes?
I had a daily driver that did exactly what you are describing... Confused the hell out of me and the garage.
Eventually I discovered and resolved the problem, the "piston side" brake pad is held in by a three legged spring, which due to clumsy, rushed installation (by me) had been sprained... There was just enough movement to allow the pad to rattle. Once I re-set the springs, everything was quiet again..
Neither me or the mechanic who drove the car, heard the noise and then spent ages on the MOT ramp looking for the cause could believe that such a small amount of play could cause that amount of noise...
Hi Brian, Have you done anything with the front brakes?
I had a daily driver that did exactly what you are describing... Confused the hell out of me and the garage.
Eventually I discovered and resolved the problem, the "piston side" brake pad is held in by a three legged spring, which due to clumsy, rushed installation (by me) had been sprained... There was just enough movement to allow the pad to rattle. Once I re-set the springs, everything was quiet again..
Neither me or the mechanic who drove the car, heard the noise and then spent ages on the MOT ramp looking for the cause could believe that such a small amount of play could cause that amount of noise...
Thanks for the reply. I haven’t done anything to the brakes except bleeding them recently. My initial thought was that it could have been a rattley brake pad having come from a VX220 where the brake pads clattered all the time.
My concerns are, why would this cause it to only happen when the car is warmed up? Also, would it not go away when I’m on the brakes as the pads are pushed onto the discs? I’m pretty sure it doesn’t go away when I’m on the brakes.
Thanks,
Alex
QBee said:
Has it happened since you sent the dampers away and refitted them?
I had a similar awful noise, in my case a loud double clunk, on my daily Saab, which was a broken spring - the broken ends were clunking as they passed each other, up and then down, when the spring was compressed by the potholes down my lane.
Yours could be a spring flexing on its seat if it's not broken.
Hi Anthony, I had a similar awful noise, in my case a loud double clunk, on my daily Saab, which was a broken spring - the broken ends were clunking as they passed each other, up and then down, when the spring was compressed by the potholes down my lane.
Yours could be a spring flexing on its seat if it's not broken.
Thanks again for replying. Initially I sent the offside shock off for refurb which got rid of the constant banging over bumps. Around February this year I sent the other one off a month or two after this noise developed (assuming it was the same problem on the offside). Got it back and refitted and it is still there. I can’t see any breaks in the spring. The shocks do bother me though, I was able to move the spring up and down a bit on full suspension droop when jacked up.
The noise could also be the metal bushes with rubber washers GAZ supply as the shock top and bottom mounts. If I had a spare set of Billies I’d like to swap them out and see if that makes a difference.
Brake pad rattle is a piece of cake to remove from the equation just cover the brake pedal whilst the noise is present 
never fails , seen after market brake pad backings (the metal parts) manufactured too small over the years many times generally with the poorer brands like when customers supply their own parts 
never fails , seen after market brake pad backings (the metal parts) manufactured too small over the years many times generally with the poorer brands like when customers supply their own parts AlexHillTVR said:
ChimpOnGas said:
When I removed my Gaz Gold Pros and replaced them with my lovely Mk3 Tuscan 'S' spec Bilsteins all the noises you describe disappeared.
Interesting. I wish I had a set of Billies to try a swap. Can’t justify buying a brand new set though as a punt. As you seem to be near Peter, would you like me to post them to him so that he can help you install them on his ramp?
Peter, do you have any spare springs, or should i send some of them too?
I have three pairs, I just wish the suppliers would mark the poundage on them. Mine are anything from 350 to 500 pounds. Not got a clue which are which!
If Alex wants to try them you will need to make them up with the dampers, but I can simply put the whole lot in a box and send it by courier.
Simon's offer may well be less effort.
If Alex wants to try them you will need to make them up with the dampers, but I can simply put the whole lot in a box and send it by courier.
Simon's offer may well be less effort.
Many thanks for your kindness guys. A used set of 4 Bilsteins came up on Facebook today and the chap works in Croydon so I’ll be getting those tomorrow. Very tatty looking but very reasonable. I’ll fit those to the fronts tomorrow night and reinstate the front ARB hopefully and report back.
Phazed thanks for the offer of your ramps. I’ll try swapping the shocks first and if that doesn’t work perhaps a fresh and more experienced set of eyes and ears might be able to help if you’re up for it?
In regards to the rattling pad theory I’ll check on the way home tonight but I’m pretty sure it still occurs under braking.
Phazed thanks for the offer of your ramps. I’ll try swapping the shocks first and if that doesn’t work perhaps a fresh and more experienced set of eyes and ears might be able to help if you’re up for it?
In regards to the rattling pad theory I’ll check on the way home tonight but I’m pretty sure it still occurs under braking.
Here is a video of the noise currently, you can hear me slow down for a set of 3 speed humps and then go over them with the noise occurring when I hit them. Not particularly audible on the video, much more prominent in real life. The last one is probably the most easy to hear. No front ARB or drop links, currently on the GAZ Monos until tomorrow. Excuse the squeaky clutch.
https://youtu.be/E-1o3XBIiRo
https://youtu.be/E-1o3XBIiRo
Edited by AlexHillTVR on Thursday 30th May 20:28
Edited by AlexHillTVR on Thursday 30th May 23:36
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