hey i've got a 92 camaro and within the last several months theres been this sort of rattling noise coming from the underbody (from where exactly i cant tell)


it only happens after i've gone over some bumps or if the road isnt all that smooth...

it never happens on the highway or on new pavement of any sort...

i'm hoping it might be the rear coil springs... but i'm afraid its an axle or a tie rod, or wose, the drive shaft...


any help would be fantastic because i'm offically ordering my first part to begin the restoration process friday. (window motor)

i'm 18 and this is my first car, i worked my ass off to buy it and well... just any help would be great.

thanks alot.

I would suggest looking at the exhaust system first. Some of the muffler shops will even inspect your exhaust for free ... Also, some of the tire shops will inspect front ends and brakes for free. Of course, all shops want to sell you something, but you are not obligated to buy. I mainly suggest these because they have lifts which makes some jobs easier. If you are doing the inspections yourself, make sure that you support you car with more than just a jack before you crawl under it... and wear eye protection..Also, about your noise ...is it a light vibration, a heavy thud, ticking?, clanking? get it at any speed ...will you hear it just rocking the car ?... Wht I am saying is try to isolate it a little more...post back

Well, i just had it looked at...

they couldnt find anything that would rattle, at least nothing obvious...

they checked my U joints... good shape.

they said something about the front right fender that could be making the noise and after sitting in the passenger seat for the first time in months, i think theyre right...

i took a quick look at it and my fender brace is gone, which is making the fender go further inwards...

so i think i've narrowed it down to the front right wheel/fender area...

they also checked my shocks and coil springs and they seemed to be in pretty good shape...

i'm off tomorrow, and if the weathers nice enough i'll get under there and see if i cant isolate the problem a bit more...


but as far as the sound goes, it only happens when i'm going over some rough road... (which happens to be every road in this town...)

but it never happens on the highway, even if i do hit some rough spots...

the sound is kinda hard to describe, its not really a rattle anymore, i have to say its more of a deep clanking, the vibrations are pretty strong on the passenger side too...

i havent tried rocking the car... but i will when i go to work today...

thanks for the reply man, i really appreciate it... i'm going to meet with a realitor monday morning to buy a house and i plan on taking out a few extra thousand to put into the camaro... i'm more excited about the car than i am the house i think...

try checking the heat shield for the cat converter its right under the passenger seat. my 92 trans-am did the same thing.

If you're sure it's not a heat shield or burned out catalytic converter rattling, see if the noise goes away when you step lightlty on the brake pedal as you hit a bump.

I'm not sure what the pads in a '92 look like, but on the older cars there were "ears" on the outboard brake pads that need to be bent or "staked" when you change the pads. The inboard pads have clips that hold them tight to the caliper pistons but the outboard pads "float". Most newbies (or professionals in a rush) miss this step. The result is that the outboard brake pads rattle when you hit bumps and aren't stepping on the brake pedal.

To stake the pads you can use a large channel lock (17" pair works great!) to bend the tabs, or you can pry up between the pad and rotor hub and lightly hammer the tabs down with a ball pein.

Paul D.

I will definitly check that. Thanks.

it makes perfect sense with the fender brace missing and how the fender is sunken in a little bit...

I really think thats it.
I'm excited now... cant wait for it to warm up a bit so i can check it out...

thanks again.