Clonking Clam

Author
Discussion

Marlon

Original Poster:

735 posts

265 months

Monday 12th July 2004
quotequote all
One of the few niggles remaining with my 3R is the clattering noise that comes from the rear of the car when driving on an uneven road surface. Not too bad through most pot-holes, but some surface conditions really cause a problem that spoils the driving experience - its particularly bad if I hit a bump mid-corner, rattling and squeeking galore!

It's been into the dealer twice to fix, but no luck. They've tried raising and lowering the pivot point of the rear clam, and have applied a lubricant of some sort (I think they said silicon, but not certain) to the contact pads.

The contact between the clam and rear bulk-head is OK, but not perfect (there are some air gaps - it's certainly not resting with even pressure). Has anyone tried fiddling with their clam to stop this kind of "skuttle shake"? It's driving me bonkers!

My current plan is to get hold of some 5mm crushed nioprene (i.e. as used in wetsuits) to stick at the various contact points; to reduce the poorly-dampened gaps and increase the amount of shock absorbtion... do you think that would work?

Ideas much appreciated.


>>> Edited by Marlon on Monday 12th July 14:18

amg merc

11,954 posts

260 months

Monday 12th July 2004
quotequote all
RU sure its the clam - I had a "noise" - thought it was the front clam but apparently it isn't!

Yours could be the exhaust?, the rear window unseating?, the rear wing moving?, etc.

One way to tell - take the rear clam off and drive the car (on a private road of course!).

obes

3,298 posts

251 months

Monday 12th July 2004
quotequote all
I have some draught excluder round mine. Works a treat !

O.

hunttheshunt

1,093 posts

247 months

Monday 12th July 2004
quotequote all

My 3R has had a problem with rattles from the rear clam.

I took mine back to MV and they adjusted the brackets and now it's fine...............well apart from the rattle I get from the exhaust mount that has sheared but that's being fixed at the weekend.

From memory the two noises are quite different though. The exhaust is far more tinkly if that makes sense and is audible particularly at low revs under load.

Marlon

Original Poster:

735 posts

265 months

Monday 12th July 2004
quotequote all
Thanks guys.

I'm fairly certain that it's the clam and not the exhaust or other peripheral.

Rob - I had considered your idea, and it may well come to that!

Obes - Did you apply the draught excluder to the car or the clam? A small point, but it might make a difference!

obes

3,298 posts

251 months

Monday 12th July 2004
quotequote all
I've got about a 6 inch strip on the centre of the clam.

It's not actually draught excluder, it's a rubberised self adhesive foam that we use on ink ducts in the factory. But it's on a roll and is so similar to draught excluder that it might as well be!

Your neoprene idea sounds better tho.

Owen.