Noisy Rattle, can't find it, any ideas?

[katalenic]

I have a noisy rattle from the underside, that I hear clearly when go over bumps - sounds like more on driver's side. I knew the heat shields on the cat converters were loose, so I shot a few screws into them to hold into place, seems to have worked really well.
But, the noise continues and I can't locate anything else loose. I followed the length of the exhaust and all brackets/hangers seem to be in place and tight, don't hear the noise when I wiggle the exhaust from underneath either.
Any ideas what to check, don't think it's the exhaust system anymore, but not sure where to look. Makes the car sound like crud when driving down the street.

[coolbear1]

If the sound is coming from the rear of the car, you might take a look at your rear shock mounts.

They are in the trunk, under the carpet and on top of the wheel well.

The shock shaft will make a thumpity thump noise when the shock travels up and down, because the rubber is cracked in the mount.

Very common, and 98 is about right for replacement, if you have not allready done so.

[katalenic]

not a thud, definitely a rattle. Sometimes can hear at idle - especially when along a brick wall like at a drive-thru. Reminds me of old days when the clamp on a exaust pipe would be loose, but I can't find anything like that.

[Risiko]

I hear a similar thing although I can only hear it when listening very closely. I hear it when I'm going very slowly.

[coolbear1]

How about the spring clips on the brake calipers?

[katalenic]

took a look at front/left brakes again - noticed that the Brake Shield is split. I think this is what's making all the noise.
Looks like they sell this part on pelican ($30), but can this be repaired without welding? Does it mean anything that it's split?

[coolbear1]

If I understand you correctly, you are refering to the sheet metal dust shield that is bolted to the steering knuckle, on the front, or the trailing arm in the rear.

Behind the hub.

In either case, to replace it you have to remove the hub.

No fun.

The bearing gets destroyed in the process of removing the hub, and in the case of the front you have to buy the hub and bearing as an assembly.

The only alternative is to cut the shield with a pair of snips and spread it apart.

Sounds like you already have one of those though.

I bent mine up pretty bad once pressing my hub off to replace the rear bearing. It was scrubbing, rattling, scraping, all the above. I tried to remove the wheel and bend it, or adjust it, however you want to discribe attacking it with various tools and explatives, with limited success.

What finally worked was to leave the wheel on, with the car on the ground and with a combination of reaching around behind the wheel and sticking a screwdriver through the wheel from the outside while I rolled the car down my driveway I was able to quell the problem.

Sounds unorthodox and I'm sure looks funny from next door.

You did say "any ideas"