Hey guys,

I did a track day 2 weekends ago and I haven't really driven the car since (not my daily driver).
I drove it into work today and noticed a rattling sound in the rear end... sounds like metal rattling. I thought it might be a sway bar endlink or tie rod end that came loose and was rattling around but I had the guys in the shop put it up on a hoist and look under the car... everything is tight. Nothing broken or loose.

I thought it might be my wheels because my rear drivers side wheels lug backed out a bit when I was racing... it ended up marring the lug holes and the lug nuts a bit but I tightened it back up and kept checking the torque settings periodically afterwards. Never really heard a noise that day.

So I had my wheels taken off and checked today... the mechanic is telling me it might be my wheel that's causing the sound (which I don't think it would be but I'm no mechanic) and or my rear axle. Again, it's a rattling sound.

Anyone have any ideas?
I have Work Meisters right now and they're not really cheap to replace which would suck.... I'd almost rather replace the axles as they'd be cheaper than my wheels but before I start replacing parts I want to know if anyone else had any ideas...

Thanks.

 

does the noise rattle only while driving, or when idling? hard accel? try to elaborate more on how to reproduce the noise

 

I can hear it in 1st gear at nearly a crawl and or going slow... the noise is still there when I speed up but it's less noticeable because of all the other noise the car makes (tires, wind, exhaust, etc...). Doesn't happen when I'm at idle...
If I turn the car to the right the noise gets louder and if I turn the car to the left the noise almost disappears. Sounds like metal on metal rattling.

I've been doing some research and I'm going to try re-tightening the axle nut on both sides to see if that alleviates the noise. I've ordered a 36mm socket and hopefully it arrives today so I can tackle this tomorrow and get the car back on the road.

 

I think it's more like something is loose. Do you hear the noise if you just rev it stopped

 

I just drove it into work (4km's) and it's weird...
I only hear the noise when the car is warmed up... cold leaving the house it was normal.

Half way into work, I stopped for coffee and got back in the car and started driving... rattling noise. It's loudest at 2k - 3k rpm. I can hear it at higher rpm as well but the sound speeds up.
Something new I noticed is when I push the clutch in the noise disappears So I was going about 70km/h (43mph) and I pushed the clutch in... quiet.

It's also loudest when I turn the car right than if I turn it to the left.

I'm lost... I've talked to a few mechanics now and they're telling me it could be a throw out bearing based on my description but then others are telling me a throw out bearing wouldn't sound like metal rattling in a tin can... it would sound more like it's whining.

I went out and reved the car and there's no noise...

So now I'm not sure if what it is....
Looks like i'll be taking it into the dealership to get diagnosed.

 

Which exhaust are you running?

Get someone to drive by you while it's rattling.

Jack up the rear tires, turn the tires by hand while in gear and not in gear and listen, turn the car on and put it in gear and drive in 1st gear slowly and listen for it.

If you need to drive it in gear to replicate the issue, make 150% sure the car is VERY SECURE, front tires are blocked off and nobody under the car, you just need to lift the tires off the ground and move the drive train. Might help pinpoint the problem.

 

almost impossible to help with this as the problems are not consistent. noise that happens turning left and right usually have to do with load and that could be bearings or supension. noise when just idling has to do with engine. could be something in the cat going bad. i was getting noise underneath and turned out the cat honey comb had come apart