Rattle when going over small bumps - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Praxiss454 · 05-20-2018, 09:52 PM

I have a weird rattle noise coming from the front driver's side wheel area, not sure exactly where. I hear it when I go over uneven road, like small potholes. It almost sounds like a smacking sound. Any tips on what my likely cause is, and how to diagnose? It really could be coming from anywhere under the hood, hard to pinpoint.

AcampoDave · 05-20-2018, 10:51 PM

When that happened to me, the shock mounting stud was loose in the frame.

Praxiss454 · 05-20-2018, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AcampoDave

When that happened to me, the shock mounting stud was loose in the frame.

How did you track it down? I guess I could jack the truck up by the cross member and just shake the hell out of everything until something rattles.

AcampoDave · 05-20-2018, 11:45 PM

I laid under it and looked everything over from front to back. Trailing arm bushings, ball joints, the shocks themselves... All that kind of stuff needs to be looked at every now and then. My truck is not slammed so I throw down a piece of cardboard and just slide underneath.

Praxiss454 · 05-21-2018, 01:06 AM

Well, now you've got me thinking that with the way it rattles as I'm going over small bumps in the road, its gotta be related to the front shock absorber on that side.

62chevy302 · 05-21-2018, 10:22 AM

Do you have a front sway bar? If so does it use end links?

Robert Haas · 05-21-2018, 11:12 AM

Lowered springs tend to "talk" as they don't always seat in their respective saddles in the lower A arms.

Praxiss454 · 05-21-2018, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Haas

Lowered springs tend to "talk" as they don't always seat in their respective saddles in the lower A arms.

To my knowledge, the truck has a stock ride height. I've been reading my maintenece manual section on front suspension and there are a bunch of checks I should make (and should have made before posting).

**Chevy Fleetside** · 05-21-2018, 04:27 PM

Just reach in and grab the shock and see if the upper mount is loose. I had this same problem and is what is was. If you have a v8 it might be a bit of a pain to tighten.

Praxiss454 · 05-22-2018, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chevy Fleetside

Just reach in and grab the shock and see if the upper mount is loose. I had this same problem and is what is was. If you have a v8 it might be a bit of a pain to tighten.

Sure enough, the upper mount is loose. Thanks for the tip!

**nsb29** · 05-22-2018, 04:37 PM

Mine also came loose and had Wallowed out the hole in the frame after repairing the hole I added a little insurance

Praxiss454 · 05-22-2018, 04:43 PM

Tightened it up and took it out on the road over lunch, its nice to not have the rattle. It's a little thing, but having fixed it gives me more confidence in the truck, and makes it feel more solid.

05-20-2018, 09:52 PM	#1
Praxiss454 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 519	Rattle when going over small bumps I have a weird rattle noise coming from the front driver's side wheel area, not sure exactly where. I hear it when I go over uneven road, like small potholes. It almost sounds like a smacking sound. Any tips on what my likely cause is, and how to diagnose? It really could be coming from anywhere under the hood, hard to pinpoint. __________________ 1965 GMC 1000 SWB Fleetside L6 230 - SOLD Thanks everyone for the help over the years.

05-20-2018, 10:51 PM	#2
AcampoDave Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: central California Posts: 2,781	Re: Rattle when going over small bumps When that happened to me, the shock mounting stud was loose in the frame.

05-20-2018, 11:45 PM	#4
AcampoDave Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: central California Posts: 2,781	Re: Rattle when going over small bumps I laid under it and looked everything over from front to back. Trailing arm bushings, ball joints, the shocks themselves... All that kind of stuff needs to be looked at every now and then. My truck is not slammed so I throw down a piece of cardboard and just slide underneath. Last edited by AcampoDave; 05-20-2018 at 11:55 PM.

05-21-2018, 01:06 AM	#5
Praxiss454 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 519	Re: Rattle when going over small bumps Well, now you've got me thinking that with the way it rattles as I'm going over small bumps in the road, its gotta be related to the front shock absorber on that side. __________________ 1965 GMC 1000 SWB Fleetside L6 230 - SOLD Thanks everyone for the help over the years.

05-21-2018, 10:22 AM	#6
62chevy302 hillbilly Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: hampton,tn Posts: 459	Re: Rattle when going over small bumps Do you have a front sway bar? If so does it use end links? __________________ -1962 C-10

05-21-2018, 11:12 AM	#7
Robert Haas Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Salinas Ca. Posts: 625	Re: Rattle when going over small bumps Lowered springs tend to "talk" as they don't always seat in their respective saddles in the lower A arms.

05-21-2018, 04:27 PM	#9
Chevy Fleetside Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,782	Re: Rattle when going over small bumps Just reach in and grab the shock and see if the upper mount is loose. I had this same problem and is what is was. If you have a v8 it might be a bit of a pain to tighten. __________________ "A man and his truck, what a beautiful thing" 65 Short Fleetside BBC 65 Long Fleetside 283 3 on the tree for now. my build thread http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=259536

05-22-2018, 04:37 PM	#11
nsb29 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: new smyrna beach fl / 29 palms cal Posts: 1,727	Re: Rattle when going over small bumps Mine also came loose and had Wallowed out the hole in the frame after repairing the hole I added a little insurance Attached Images

05-22-2018, 04:43 PM	#12
Praxiss454 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 519	Re: Rattle when going over small bumps Tightened it up and took it out on the road over lunch, its nice to not have the rattle. It's a little thing, but having fixed it gives me more confidence in the truck, and makes it feel more solid. __________________ 1965 GMC 1000 SWB Fleetside L6 230 - SOLD Thanks everyone for the help over the years.



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