Vibration and rattling

im_boostn · Postby **im_boostn** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:42 pm

Hi guys
my Nb8a seems to have developed a serious rattle and now it's shaking quite bad on roads which aren't 100% smooth but have previously hasn't had the same effect on the car.

I can see the passenger seat shaking and the seat doesn't seem to be loose.

I thought it was the spare wheel and the wooden cover on it, but I've taken out everything in the boot (jack, the handle, tool kit, wheel etc etc)

cars rattling and shaking like a jackhammer on some roads that aren't perfectly smooth.

My alignment seems fine (based on the letting go of the steering on a flat road)

What should I check before taking it to a mechanic? Tyres looks fine although they are quite old.

edit: rattle sounds/feels like its coming from the back of the car, maybe passenger side although not sure
thanks,

phil

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 1:12 pm

im_boostn wrote:I can see the passenger seat shaking and the seat doesn't seem to be loose.

You can rule in or out the passenger seat by moving the seat base back (if necessary) & then reclining the seatback so that it's pressing against the rear bulkhead. That will at least stop it shaking & might allow you to better identify where the issue originates from.

Regie · Postby **Regie** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 3:54 pm

worn shock possibly

RJ45 · Postby **RJ45** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 4:27 pm

Check your wheel nuts are all there & that none are loose.

Looks like someone was halfway through trying to borrow one of my rear wheels.
After replacing the 2 missing nuts, things felt better.

im_boostn · Postby **im_boostn** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:03 pm

sliding the seat right up against the rear helped a bit, but still rattling. Will check the nuts later and underneath the car on the weekend when I run it on my ramps

Locutus · Postby **Locutus** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:52 pm

are you sticking the passenger seat belt tongue into it's holder in the trim when it's not in use?

Charlie Brown · Postby **Charlie Brown** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 3:07 pm

Forget the rattle that's caused by the vibration.
Check your rims aren't warped or the tyres flat spotted.

ak_perth · Postby **ak_perth** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 3:01 pm

Sounds a bit like wheels are not balanced? Maybe a balancing weight has fallen off perhaps? You could take it to a garage so they can check the balance?