I have that same problem, but when I went to fix a flat rear tire I noticed that the bushing for the sway bar wasnt attached anymore, the little thing that looks like a washer that the bushing rides on wasnt attached anymore and the sway bar was free to move up and down. What can i do to fix this?

 

Check to see if it is you jack, behind the carpet in the rear,

 

i accidently popped my hatch at the gas station and too lazy to close the hatch right then and there i drive home with the hatch popped...and noticed the rattling noise was GONE!!!

i took out the rear cover to check the lock mechanism and didn't see anything loose...i also checked the screws (again) on the rear hatch and all was tight...so at this point i'm just gonna live with it...unless someone knows exactly this noise and how to fix it

 

My 85 gl suddenly developed a tinny rattling noise coming from inside the muffler I'm sure. It happens whenever the engine is running. I jacked up the car and ran the engine and it definitely sounds like it is inside the muffler. There is nothing loose in the area to make that sound.

 

My rattle ended up being a loose e-brake cable, i could pull up on the handle and the noise would stop while going over bumps,,,,adjusted it and no more rattling...

 

My GSL-SE also has a bump-related rattle, but lower in tone than a rattle coming from the rear. It doesn't do it all the time and is very annoying.

I took the spare out to see if anything was loose under it and it was only the crank for the jack which I have moved to behind the passenger seat.

The spare is tight in its spot. It almost sounds like a rear glass problem.

I guess I will have to pull out the screwdrivers and ratchets and check all fasteners for tightness.

Maybe I will get energetic this weekend and put up the rear on jack stands and have a peek around.

Roger

 

Mine makes the same noise ever since the SE suspension swap into my GSL.

It sounds as if something is loose in the suspension. Its not a sledgehammer thud, but it sounds like someone has a ball pein hammer and is tapping something as I go over bumps..........it's fine on a smooth road.

I'll have to get it back up in the air and check all the bushings.

 

I plan on checking out the rattle in the back this weekend when I change the fuel filter out.

But something weird I have noticed...

If my laptop case is in the back or anything else that weighs more than 10 lbs, the noise is pretty much gone.

I don't get it yet. The spare is bolted tight, there is nothing in the spare tire tub area that is knocking aroung. I was hoping I would find a golf ball bouncing around, but no such luck.

Oh well, it will have to wait for the weekend.

Roger

 

Maybe one of the bolts holding the compartment tin in place...

 

does it go away when you hit the brakes? i have almost a thump form my drivers side rear that goes away when i hold the brakes.

 

Terry: Do you mean hold the e-brake hand lever?

Felgar: What do you mean by the compartment tin? Is the spare tub area bolted on? I thought that it was one piece.

Roger

 

No I mean what the storage bin lids are screwed too.

 

FOUND IT!!! I was moving the hatch up and down and up and down and zero'ed in on the rattling...turned out to be the hatch hinges...I sprayed some silicone spray on them and done...my 6 hour ride to VA was pleasant without the rattling

 

hey I noticed you said you had your rear end fluid changed, if you don't add any lsd or posi additive in there it will make a noise. What model do you have? Also is it like areally loud banging noise? Cause your exhaust could feel fine, but could be messed up. Mine was banging against the underbody at one point in time. Grab the exhaust (when it's not hot for all you morons out there) now I'm actually talking about the piping just at the rear axle and give i a shake, could have bad bushings. It will bang if it's bad.

 

hey everyone...i was just goin to post up that i might have the solution to my rattling noise.....i was under the car once again and i noticed that the rear sway bar bushings were gone....they had completly deteriated and that the bar was rubbing the rear differential and was rubbing the actual body frame....hopefully when i put the new bushings in 2morrow itll be fixed....if not im goin to lift the car and remove all the sheet metal shielding between the muffler and the driveshaft to see if that removes the rattling

parker

 

no i havent tried holding the e barke it goes away when i hit the pedal.

 

This past weekend I checked the back interior (for loose panels, etc) and also checked underneath... everything is solid.

Well, I took a the idea from Bizarro and sprayed my hatch hinges with some silicone lubricant. While I was at it I did all the rubber mouldings around the hatch.

I don't know why or how but no more rattle. Why would spraying the lube on the hinges work? Actually, who cares?? It worked!!

Thanks, Bizarro!

Roger