pain in the arse rattle !!!

[TuxMan]

help guys i,v got a odd exhaust type rattle ,its coming from engine compartment does not do it when still, sounds like it could be either a heat shield vibrating or........much as i hate to say it loose baffles in the rear box !! anyone else had a problem with baffles ??? seems to come and go as well .

[GTO400]

Older boxes were known to suffer from loose baffles, some were changed under warranty!
Kevin

[TuxMan]

bugger !!! nothing from cold seems to get worse the warmer it gets !!

[david.mt]

Was in an M400 today with the same issue....thought it may be the heatshield near the bulkhead?

[F.C.]

Check the heat-shields over the turbos, and you still have the chocolate exhaust box bracket to inspect, these go with regular monotony even when strengthened.
F.C.

[TuxMan]

Don,t think its the shields around the back turbo ,guess i'll have to get back underneath and have alook at the front ones .F.C which is the chocolate bracket ???

[JMG]

Tuxman, I am no expert but I believe the "chocolate" bracket is the one welded to the top of the box. I had an annoying squeaky rattle and it turned out that this bracket had snapped, just where it joins the box, but the two ends had remained in very close proximity to each other and were rubbing together causing the squeak. I simply moved the two parts away from each other to stop the squeak.

I have actually fitted a new stronger purpose built bracket today.

[F.C.]

TuxMan said:

Don,t think its the shields around the back turbo ,guess i'll have to get back underneath and have alook at the front ones .F.C which is the chocolate bracket ???

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=26&t=661925&mid=75766&nmt=Finished%20at%20last%20%20,pictures

1st picture top left on exhaust box.
HTH
F.C.

Edited by F.C. on Sunday 15th March 21:26

[TuxMan]

Sorry F.C ,can't get the link to open !!! desperate to have alook .

[F.C.]

TuxMan said:

Sorry F.C ,can't get the link to open !!! desperate to have alook .

Copy and paste the link into the explorer bar (sorry)

[TuxMan]

ok ,no worries that bracket is ok ,did not put all the screws in bottom engine plate just wondering if it could be that ?? still think it could be baffles !!!

[AMG Merc]

TuxMan said:

F.C which is the chocolate bracket ???

Ahem, allow me...
This is the Noble OEM bracket that's welded to the top left end of the standard exhaust silencer box. It is made of chocolate which, as I'm sure you are aware, has a melting point of around 36°C to ensure that the product melts in the mouth - hence the brackets are guaranteed to fail regularly.

The bracket is based on the popular Sarf Arrikaan confection below. I think the SA lads were 'aving a larf wiv us Brits when they welded a bracket directly to the mild steel casing material of the box, IMHO!





After my three failures I have a fix that's lasted over three years now, will post up a photo when I can.

[TuxMan]

ok ...... better have another look monday night !!!

[Twerlie]

It is probably the heat shield on the front turbo.

[TuxMan]

Have made a new steel top bracket for the front turbo as that on was broke when i first got the car ,sounds a bit to harsh to be a heat shield, what i need is someone to run alongside the car to see were it is coming from !!

[Bittercars]

My silencer used to rattle all the time so I cut a patch out of the bottom to have a look, refixed the baffle and welded the box shut again.
This worked fine for a while, but 3000 miles later the rattle is back again, although less frequently than before .

Edited by Bittercars on Tuesday 17th March 18:29

[TuxMan]

Hi Bittercars , ok sounds good thats what i am planning to do ,was it much of a job ?? how big a hole did you cut ?? have you got any pictures ?? thanks Simon

[Bittercars]

No pics I'm afraid.

I cut a panel about 10 inches by 5 inches out of the bottom.

Next time, I'll probably refit it with rivets or rivnuts rather than welding it back on, to make access easier in the future if the rattle starts again.

Or, I could stop being a cheap skate and buy a new exhaust!

[TuxMan]

ok sounds like i was heading in the right direction .....see group buy thread ...ref new exhaust !!!