Creaking bulkhead on a V8 help needed?

[zhastaph]

Hi,

I have an annoying creak/clonk/annoying noise in the cabin of my MY00 V8 everytime I leap over uneven ground.

It's pretty much all coming from the passenger side, I took a friend out in her today to try and identify where it's coming from the answer I got was;

Zhastaph's Friend said:

Sorta all over there

as he waved his hand accross the whole passenger side of the bulkhead, so I've come to the conclusion it's the bulkhead and from what I read it doesn't seem all that uncommon.

Now, I think I've found the chassis to bulkhead bolts as pictured here;



Trouble is, they're pretty tight.

So I'm wondering.

Have I got the wrong bolts as they're not all that hard to get to? {I've read stories about how hard they are to get to}

Or are there more bolts?

Am I missing something obvious?

Also along the same lines, according to the manual there are 2 body to chassis bolts either side of the tunnel. Are these the same bolts used to gold the seat belts fasteners in or are there more?

Thanx guys

[kmaier]

Check ALL of the chassis/body mounting bolts and ensure they are tight. Also, in your posted pic, you have a screw loose and hanging out from the left side cover and that probably rattles as well. You should also check the suspension bolts... I've had these loosen up as well.

Regards, KM
2000 V8

[sa mike]

It's probably the firewall behind the seats. I checked with my local dealer and they said had another 00 Esprit with the same problem. Either the (wood) firewall comes loose or shrinks and rattles around. The fix, washers or spacers that tighten or fill up the gap. Just couldn't beleive a car worth this much would have a wood firewall. Anyways might want to check it out

[Paula&Marcus]

Hi,
It definitely IS the bulkhead ! Please remove the carpet behind the seats (or cut two windows in it at the right place ;o) and remove the two bolts (= bolt+plate+sleves). When you take this out, you will see that the sleeves are a bit too long (= wood has become less thick ;o). You have to shorten the sleeves a little bit 3-4mm. This will ensure that the plywood-bulkhead is getting secured tightly when you reinstall the bolts+plate+sleeves.

Cheers
Marcus (www.PUKesprit.de)

[zhastaph]

Nice one Marcus.

Yeah, I'm totally certain it's the bulkhead but what I couldn't understand is why it is loose when the bolts are tight, so I wondered if mayb they had shoulders on them or something {or as it would appear Sleeves }.

Well spotted with the screw by the way {I didn't think anyone would notice at that resolution } Yes this is loose and come away, but I'm assuming it keeps coming undone because the bulkhead is moving about.

I do also have some movement in the suspension which I put down to shite bushes, I have my eye on a set of Marcus's Polurethanes at present

Thanks guys

[Paula&Marcus]

Hi,
I forgot to tell you !!! Please be careful with the carpet ... it tends to destroy itself when you trie to remove it (=the loops are getting pulled through the carpets backside very easily) ... ( Looks horrible afterwards !

I usually do it with the window-cut-method. You can feel through the carpet, where the bolts+plates are. Cut a rectanular 14cm x 7cm with a sharp Stanley knife(only three cuts so you can open the window and close it again ;o)

Cheers
Marcus (www.PUKesprit.de)

[benfell100]

Hi I have a similar problem currently with my S4 and I checked the bulkhead bolts but they were as solid as a rock. I then checked the chassis bolts in the BOOT and they are the culprits. The flex just pushes them through eventually and the back end will wobble. I have had this problem before and its very disconcerting. Just lift the carpet in the boot in the left and right corners nearest the engine (not nearest the rear lights) there should be 2 lumps. move the carpet gently and you may find something unexpected. If it is these it will require some glass repair and I would suggest reinforcing.
Dom

[jimburton]

Can anyone give me a pointer as to where the bolts are within the panel....I have the same creaking problem and an initial run over the carpet didn't give me confidence in locating them.

Thanks
Jim

[zhastaph]

Hi Jim,

I always try to make an effort to take photos whenever I work on my car in case anyone has similar woes.

Firstly Marcus' advice is 100% correct.

Cut the carpet around the bracket, use a very sharp stanley knife blade and it's very easy to make a very neat cut. I haven't actually bothered glueing mine down yet as it pops back quite neat anyway, but it can be very easily stuck back with some spray glue. Remember it's right behind the seat so noones ever going to noitce even if you do make a bit of a mess.

Look at my pictures and then feel around the area. There are 2 layers of foam behind the carpet except for the small area where the bracket is where this is only 1 layer. You will be able to feel the difference here and this is what you are looking for rather than trying to actually feel the bolts themselves.

My brackets were a solid one piece all welded together so I'd expect yours to be the same. Take the bracket out and take a dremel to it shaving off a couple of mm off of the sleeves.

Mine was 100% after doing this. The only annoying thing is that now I can hear all the creaking from every other bleeding place on the car


Couple of pics of my cut in the carpet;





And a couple of pics of the bracket once it was out;




Col

[jimburton]

Thanks very much, Col - I'll get on it at the weekend and let you know when I'm decreaked.

Cheers
Jim

[bojangles]

Hi, I am confused by the driver vs passenger side.
Are there bolts on both sides?

I thought you were in the US... You referred to passenger side but the seat you show in the pic is on the LHS.

I guess i could go feel around both sides of my car, i have a clunky noise that seems to come from the tunnel..

Bruce S4s

[zhastaph]

Hi Bruce,

I'm on a sunny little Island in the Uk so my car is RHD.

Both pictures show the passenger side, just taken from a slightly different angle.

The drivers side is in an identical position to the passenger's side just on err the opposite side


Edited to Add:

As long as you have a tool to grind down the sleeves it really is an easy peasy job and makes the most unbelievable difference to the car if it is creaking and banging - you don't realise how annoying the noise is till you take it away

Trouble is now, having taken that noise away I can now hear other creaks and clonks coming from both front and rear wheels on the left hand side. Marcus is air mailing me over a complete set of polyurethan bushes so {weather withstanding} I'm hoping that this will be this weekend's endeavour

>> Edited by zhastaph on Tuesday 10th May 17:35

[britten_mark]

I have a bit of a clunk right behind my seat on some bends, usually occurs with a change of camber as well as direction. I wondered if it was these things but was warned that the heads of the bolts were not captive, but I see yours are welded up so hopefully that was duff advice. Cutting the carpet though, ouch!

[bojangles]

are the bolts welded to the bracket? Do you have to unbolt from in the engine compartment..?

I thought this was easy...Hehehe.

[zhastaph]

Dude, this is easy I promise

Yes, the bolts on mine were welded to the brackets, however from what I read this isn't the case on older vehicles.

What you need to do is;

1. Cut your carpet - Go on, you know you want to

2. Climb in the engine bay and undo the 2 nuts holding the chassis frame to the bulkhead {or the other way round } Remove them and the little washer bit.

This was peanuts on mine, it is very easily accessible, however I do believe it isn't so easy on a 4 pot and that you may have to do it from underneath add to this, if it isn't welded like mine then you're gonna need a helper to hold the other end

3. Remove the brackets and the little sleeve things, again on mine this was 1 piece but may end up being a fiddle on yours as you may have to fish the sleeves out with a pair of pliers or a screwdriver or something

4. Attack the sleeves with a dremel

5. Reassemble

6. Do it again on the other side

7. Take the car out over the worst made roads you know, and think "aaaaaaah "

[JimBurton]

I've followed this process down to the point of having removed the bolts in the engine compartment (hope I got the right bolts) but the thing seems stuck fast....anyone had this problem or can reassure me that I can take a hammer to it.....could it be stuck tight against the chassis frame the bolts are bolted through?

All advice gratefully received
Jim

[zhastaph]

If you've undone the 2 nuts in the engine bay side and the six screws cabin side that hold the bracket to the bulkhead then that's all that holds it in.

I see to remember tapping by out with a hammer first time around.