I have a Rattling Noise coming from the rear of my Camaro. What is it?!?

Question

I have a 2000 Camaro Z28. It has had a Rattling noise coming from the rear (Posibly the right side) of the car since I had it (about 18k Miles). I was told it could need a rear-end fluid change a year ago.

I changed the Fluid last fall, and it still does it!

I was also told that it sounds like a U-joint by MANY people. So, I changed one of the U-joints that could have Possibly been bad. But, it wasn't. I changed a Good U-joint that didn't need chaged, and spent over $75 just to have it removed. The newer one isn't exactly as easy to move as the Old one...But anyway....

That STILL Didn't solve the Rattle I was hearing.

I belive that it IS comeing from either the Differential, or the rear-right wheel-Bearing. I can't exactly describe the noise, it is More of a Knocking sound. Almost a Rolling noise, consistent with the axle & wheel speed.

I would like for some REAL Experts to help me out with this one, since the Ya-hoo's in Indianapolis are of No help... :P

Any Advice??

Hey Air-Head!! :

Anyone that gives an Answer of having Blown speakers, to a Question involving a Rear-Mechanical noise is a Complete and Annoying Idioit!!!!

You are worse that the City-Tards in Indy!! >:P

Hey! I don't have Drums in the Back: I have Disc's. I have Checked the breaks, and I can't find anything loose.

HOWEVER, I have found, that if I jack my Car up on a Lift, I can make this same Knocking Noise, just by jerking back-and-forth on the Rear-right Wheel. This makes a metal-knock type of sound. I don't know what would cause this, but its definitly the Right-Rear wheel area!

OK...
I am going to Change my Question to 'How do you Chnage a rear-wheel bearing' soon, if I don't find anymore answers....

All of this stuff about my Enginge, and Exhaust is Totally BOAGUS!!!

I have Jacked my car up of Jack-Stands, and have CONFIRMED that it is in the Rear-Axle somewhere....

I'd like to know if there is someone that knows enough about Cars, that could help me out!!!!

You guys have been great, but I seek more information..

Keep Answering, Mabey I can get a really Smart Mechanic to answer this!! :)

For your Information:

This Camaro I am Talking about is PAMPERED....

It DOES NOT have a 'Puntured Exhaust'. It is NOT low to the ground. And it hasn't been raped by the people who would do things to it to cause cracks and dents to occure to the body OR exhaust!!

This sould it definitly in the rear-axle!!!!
maybe Not the rear-end gears, but in the Axle-shaft somewhere!!!!

SO, don't tell me that my Exhaust or tranny needs a look: I've already checked my baby for that stuff!!!! Its in the wheel-axle area!!

Answer 1

you might have something in the brake drum cavity or on your wheel loose? Only other thing it could be is a loose Parking brake cable that is tapping the undercarriage of the car as speed increases. Good Luck...

Answer 2

I own a shop, and build a lot of differentials. This may sound crazy, but this may be normal. Depending on what type of differential you have, it may be a limited slip, or a ratchet type. Try this; Put the vehicle into a corner, and stand on the gas to see if it gets louder. If it does; the vehicle has a limited slip differential, and what you are hearing is the clutches in it grabbing. If the differential was set-up tighter than it should be, it will be almost impossible to get the noise to go away. Changing the fluid to something such as Redline brand oil may resolve the issue. Many differential oil's won't have the additive to stop foaming, and in some cases this will be the deal. Look at the differential cover to see if it has a tag on it under one of the cover bolts. This tag should indicate you must run a special oil, and maybe even an additive along with it to get rid of the noise. If it's an Eaton limited slip differential, one may want to remove the cover, and look to see if it has this tiny spring that has came loose, and not letting it click into the notches to work the differential as it was designed to do. I have even had to flush the differential with something in order to get it clean, and then fill it back with some good lubricant to get rid of the noise. I would also pull the axels out, and check to see if it has a bad bearing on one of them. It would also be a good time to check the backlash with a dial indicator to see if it is too tight, or loose. I have seen these present problems from the factory, so take it to a reputable mechanic that has experience with building differentials, and he can find the problem, and make suggestions as to what will resolve the issue. Talk to some of the local drag racers, and they can tell you who is best on these gear set-up's.
Glad to help out, Good Luck!!!

Answer 3

The "rattle" sound you are hearing is probably from the right rear shock absorber, where it bolts to the axle. Check to see if the rubber bushing is still on it, if not there will be some slop in it and metal on metal rattling will result, it will also make a loud clunking noise when you hit bumps or dips in the road. This is SO common on Camaro's, I have owned 3. Secondly, if you have a bad axle bearing it will make a metal on metal grinding sound, not a rattle. Thirdly, when you pull on the rear tire and there is some movement of the axle, it's supposed to do that, the axles have a certain amount of lateral play in them, if they didn't the axles would snap. Check your shock bushings first, then check the control arm bushings, panhard rod bushings and sway bar bushings.

Answer 4

Seen this problem with a lot of 2000 camaro's and with other ls1 years as well.Apparently the posi differential with the camaro's is prone to having loud chatter in the differential and can get rather annoying.This could also be something else like a bearing.If its the problem I think it is its only gonna get louder and even more annoying.Your probably gonna have to spend a few bucks on this to get it fixed.Since it could be something else besides the differential you should take it to have it looked at.I also had a 2000 camaro with the same problem.

Answer 5

Has anyone checked your exhaust ??
We have a van that has a bad rattle noise coming from the back area, the mechanic advised us it was our exhaust - pipes that needed to be replaced. Our town is like driving on the Moon, I don't know about yours though. But driving a low profile car like a Camaro, you are bound to bottom out numerous times... thus causing cracks, dents, etc in the exhaust system somewhere on the vehicle. You might even have a collapsed inner pipe in one of them.

Answer 6

That would the in the same area of the spare/jack. Pull the sail panel off and tighten up the wing nut on the spare/jack. Or it maybe something else in behind the right side sail panel, like the monsoon amp. if applies.

Good luck!

Answer 7

before i changed out my spark plugs my i noticed that my car started an intermitting put put like it was giving out so i changed the spark plugs and when i went to reverse my car it made a loud rattling noise which was coming from what sounds like its in-between the seats by the gears. i do have blown gasket that i am going to repair..i don't know if thats the cause ...help please...

Answer 8

It could be your exhaust hitting the bodywork. That'd make a loud hammering noise, and could happen only when the car was moving.

Answer 9

knocking noise... could be a bearing, but sometimes sound travels, and it could be a mount loose on the engine or belt, depends if it happens all the time or not, if it is not all the time, try putting the hand break on hard and putting it in first gear and slowly lifting your foot of the clutch... see if that brings it on... also try putting it on blocks and accelarating etc... it could also be the muffler that is loose... by the vibrations of the car... good luck anyhow!

Answer 10

seriously dont think its the rear end. do u notice the rattle at a specific rpm range? when this happened to me with my lt1 it was the heat shield for the cat. conv. so i just took it off to fix the prob