Strange Rattle.

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Esprit

Original Poster:

6,370 posts

290 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
I've posted this up on SELOC, but am re-posting here for the benefit of Scuffers, and anyone else who doesn't frequent SELOC often.

As you'll have read, the car's back running again now, and I'm getting it ready to be deemed road-legal again.

I've discovered that the car has picked up a very strange rattle when turning left. I initially thought this was the Quaife LSD just doing its thing, but further investigation shows that the rattle is triggered by cornering G rather than tightness of radius. If I pull into a drive at full lock and slowly, it doesn't rattle at all (this is where LSDs often make noises), but if I cruise along at 30mph doing a gentle "slalom" the rattle appears every time the car loads up.

The noise starts out as a gentle rattle, almost like a couple of slackly-adjusted gears meshing against each other. As the turn load increases, it gets a little louder and sounds like something metallic bouncing against something moving and being pushed away. Like this, it almost sounds like a ballbearing rattling against the bottom of a spraypaint can.

When travelling straight, or when turning right, the rattle is not there at all.

Nothing else seems amiss. The engine is smooth and no more rattly than a VHPD should be. The gearbox is smooth and shifts well.

It doesn't sound like something is about to get thrown to bits, but it's something I want to get to the bottom of before driving the car far or in anger.

I also thought it could have been the pinion on the new Powerlite starter motor interfering with the ring gear when running, but last night I ran the car with the old starter motor on, and the noise was still there, so I'm picking it's not that. I've since put the new starter back on.

I also had it suggested that it could be the speed sensors touching the trigger rings on the hubs, but I've checked these and they're both clear.

Last night I took a bit of video form in the car and it's hard to pick up the rattle over the din of the engine, however I captured this one short clip turning through an intersection. The rattle's not there driving straight, but you can hear it as I turn into and through the apex of the corner:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBDOcA8SiT4

I've also jacked the left hand side of the car up high and run the engine and there's no evidence of rattle. Tonight I'll do some more road testing, and will try doing some coasting turns with the engine off to see if the rattle is related to the engine or whether it's something else.

In the meantime, does anyone have any suggestions or have they had any similar rattles in the past? I'm at a loss to explain it and I want to get it sorted!

Eternally grateful.

George.

MiniDiva

1,227 posts

228 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
Not that I have any useful suggestions, but I'm guessing the noise is coming from the rear of the car?
Just checking, so that someone else can now come along with some useful suggestions biggrin
Hope you get it sussed soon

Esprit

Original Poster:

6,370 posts

290 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
"Some gearboxes showed early problems but those should all have been repaired under warranty. A bunch of PG1 gearboxes had been assembled without the ball bearing and spring that locate the reverse idler gear. On left turns the idler gear can slide and catch on the top gear cog giving an horrible grinding noise. "

Looks like it's time to strip down half the car again.... I'm out of time and money to mess with this fking car any more.

First 20 quid takes it off my hands.... I've fking had it.

MiniDiva

1,227 posts

228 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
I'll have it for £20 biggrin
Will that include shipping back the uk?
hehe


fatwomble

1,389 posts

221 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
Esprit said:
"Some gearboxes showed early problems but those should all have been repaired under warranty. A bunch of PG1 gearboxes had been assembled without the ball bearing and spring that locate the reverse idler gear. On left turns the idler gear can slide and catch on the top gear cog giving an horrible grinding noise. "

Looks like it's time to strip down half the car again.... I'm out of time and money to mess with this fking car any more.

First 20 quid takes it off my hands.... I've fking had it.
weeping