The Annoying Unwanted Sounds Thread

[tims210]

I thought it would be beneficial to start a thread for BDR owners to share their thoughts on how they remedied unwanted sounds from their cars. Some examples are rattles, squeaks, thuds, and shimmy's over bumps. Side pipes can only mask so much of the annoyances and it eventually comes down to correcting the mistakes manually. I search the forum for answers from time to time but only come up with answers for half of the common problems owners complain about. Since these answers are sporadically distributed throughout multiple threads I thought it would be nice for BDR owners to stop at one place for the fixes. I realize these cars aren't meant to ride like a Lexus but obvious problems have been solved by many owners with great, noticeable results. Please don't feel an answer will be taken as too "anal" or "overkill". We all want to know what you know.

Thanks in advance.

[Mark Brye]

My door had a terrible squeak. I found that it was the foam door seal rubbing against the door. I took a rag with some s303 on it and wiped the seals and six years later the super loud squeaking is gone. I also found a coin from South Africa behind door panel that rattled. Fixed a squeak in rear suspension that was the rear spring rubbing in lower spring bucket. Just rotated spring a little and all is good. Hood prop rod rattled in its mount. I used a dab of liquid rubber there. Been annoying sounds free for last six years but did take a couple years to find them all.

[Dirty Harry]

I don't have a BDR, but I had an annoying rattle whenever I hit a bump. I couldn't seem to locate it. One day I simulated a bumpy road by hitting the tires with a rubber hammer. Sure enough, when I hit the RF tire, I heard the noise, this time right in front of my face. One of the vanes in the side louver had gotten loose. Easy fix, problem solved.

[jimbo01]

I purchased and installed a fire extinguisher between the seats. While driving the car I found the pin that holds the handle closed had a bad rattle. I took some heat shrink and covered the pin. This stopped the rattle. Quick and simple fix.

[MOTORHEAD]

Driving home the other day, I punched it to pass a truck, and was met with a extremely loud howling noise. Got home and determined the problem ! left her home the next time out !!!!

[jeffnolan]

Originally Posted by MOTORHEAD

Driving home the other day, I punched it to pass a truck, and was met with a extremely loud howling noise. Got home and determined the problem ! left her home the next time out !!!!

that was funny

[fordracing65]

A rattle, how could it be, lol...they are kit cars...all of them rattle...

[FatBoy]

I think that's the point, they don't have to. With a bit of care and perseverance they can be fixed.
My Kirkham is rattle free on all but the very worst surfaces.

Paul

[LMH]

I had a terrible squeal from a now sold FFR but after she got out of the passengers side, the noise went away!
Larry

[BADSN8K]

place two packs of sugar.... that will work every time......

[Bill Bess]

Simple to fix.....put the cobra on a trailer and pull it with a Buick.
Smooth and quiet, plus a nice soft ride.
HEEEE!

[427BDR]

the side pipe rattle is awful. Backdraft needs to go back to the vendor they used pre 2012, these new pipes sound like a bucket of bolts

[RedEye]

Originally Posted by 427BDR

the side pipe rattle is awful. Backdraft needs to go back to the vendor they used pre 2012, these new pipes sound like a bucket of bolts

Not a particularly elegant solution, but I have a set of shell valley side pipes and they began to rattle on account of something coming loose within the inner baffled system. I drilled about 8 1/4" holes along the bottom of the pipe where they would not be visible, and pumped the pipe with an entire large tube of high-temp silicone. Let it sit of over a week. This did not resolve the mechanical source of the rattle, but it certainly reduced it by 70-80%.