2013 Suburban, rattle or tapping noise from the right rear wheel well area.

[George B]

Thought I would start up a separate thread so others might find this once I get it figured out. I started posting in our What did you do to your NNBS... thread but will continue here:

Heard a new rattle from the passenger rear. Thought maybe since I switched from using the AC to heating it was a flap in the rear heater. Nope, every mode possible and still there. Decided to have the wife drive while I rode in the back. Coming from what sounds like the wheel well. No change in the sound with the cup holders pulled so I don’t think its inside. Decided to pull the liner down and have a look. Thought maybe a critter put a nut up there or something. Was inconclusive so I put it all back together. Will see if it goes away.

Nope. Still there. Of course I can't duplicate it parked. needs to be moving and sounds like it happens during body flex. Could it be a body mount?

Unlikely a body mount. Maybe put it on jack stands under the rear axles, and have somebody bounce up and down on the rear bumper while you listen. Something obviously came loose.

Unfortunately it doesn't seem related to suspension movement like a bad bushing or sway bar link would. It is related more to bumps and or body sway. For instance, I cross a speed bump on an angle so it's a double bump/sway and I hear it for each wheel bump but I can't get it do it when I rock the truck from standing on the running board. It is a sound similar to if a ratchet strap tail was smacking the body.

Make sure your air deflector under your front bumper isn’t flopping around.

The sound is coming from what seems like the left rear wheel well. I was riding back there last night while the wife drove. Thought for sure I would find a walnut above the wheel well liner.... Nope.

Was chasing my rattle in the rear. Took the interior panels off the quarter and rode around. It is not inside the cabin. I did figure out how to duplicate the noise by pounding my knee on the floor right between the rear brackets for the third row seat on that side. The problem is that neither the wife of my son can make it do it. Only me and I can’t be under it at the same time.

Dropped the spare down looking for that stupid noise. I thought maybe since I had it down for my axle lube change that I wasn’t seated correctly. Nope, not it. I will have to take the liner out of that wheel well and find some help that can search while I make the noise happen. WTF!

Turn up the radio. Solves a lot of problems.

Did that on my ride in this morning.

My concern is that it is perhaps a line that runs to the rear HVAC. I don't want to develop a leak.

Broken heat shield maybe?

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Maybe. I have wiggled and pulled on everything imaginable under there. I do see one shield that will need repair but that one is not making the noise.

One of my coworkers is going to help me find it today. I will keep Yall Posted.

 

[George B]

I think this sums it up.... Updates to follow.

 

[George B]

And my “buddy” forgot about me and left....

 

[Rocket Man]

And my “buddy” forgot about me and left....

Some buddy.

 

[George B]

Some buddy.

No shit.

 

[George B]

Gave it a good try tonight. I pulled the liner out of the wheel well. And had my wife help. She figured out how to get it to make the sound. I can hear and feel it in the wheel well right where the pinch welds all come together. I couldn’t feel it in the HVAC lines but I loosened both retaining brackets just to eliminate the lines as a possibility. I wish I would have looked closer under and behind the heater when I had the interior apart. I am unsure if there is a bracket for something for the heater under there. Guess I take it apart again.

This is frustrating to say the least.

 

[George B]

After a bunch of reading I am still wondering if it isn’t a body mount.

 

[gooffeyguy]

It's a lost 10mm socket

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[George B]

It's a lost 10mm socket

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Maybe.

on a more serious note. I did also try to just flex the truck on the side of our loading dock. She made some noises but it wasn't enough to flex whatever is creaking.

 

[Rocket Man]

It's a lost 10mm socket

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LMAO!

 

[avalonandl]

LMAO!

Dont Laugh.... I have lost a deep socket in the frame changing out the air compressor....

 

[Stonefort]

This may or may not help but my 04 was making a bumping sound during body flex over small bumps at slow speed. I ended up finding that the passenger rear door could be pushed in and out causing the bumping sound. I adjusted the door strike plate so the door shuts tighter. Fixed my issue.

I was convinced it was something suspension related because I could feel it through the floor when it made the sound.

 

[George B]

I soaked the entire suspect area including the body mount with CRC-56 and drove to work this morning. Still creaking.

 

[Rocket Man]

Dont Laugh.... I have lost a deep socket in the frame changing out the air compressor....

That’s why I’m laughing, we have ALL lost a socket somewhere in our vehicles. Or a bolt or screw. Just the other day when I was reinstalling my front differential a bolt fell out of the engine bay and hit me right in the face, like it was saying “here I am!” I have no idea how long it was up there. Guess what size the head was? 10mm. Why is it always a 10 mm socket or 10mm bolt? I swear it almost always is.

 

[George B]

Still searching. I decided to try flexing the body and frame a bit to see if it would help. Found a good loading dock and drove one front wheel at a time until it lifted a rear wheel. No change.

I did manage to test my G80. Works good. Locked it and continued climbing until I was teetering on one front and one rear wheel.

 

[George B]

Took another stab at this today. Took the interior panels off and tried to find this again. I swear it is related to body flex. I took video to share the sound. When I took this I was squatting and bouncing in the center of where the right side third row seat would be. The sound originates in the body cavity behind the door striker. There is a body mount directly below this point. Fugg if I know!

 

[wjburken]

Took another stab at this today. Took the interior panels off and tried to find this again. I swear it is related to body flex. I took video to share the sound. When I took this I was squatting and bouncing in the center of where the right side third row seat would be. The sound originates in the body cavity behind the door striker. There is a body mount directly below this point. Fugg if I know!

I’m sure you’ve done this already but have you made sure the upper and lower bolts in your rear shocks are torqued properly and that the associated bushings are in good shape?

 

[George B]

I’m sure you’ve done this already but have you made sure the upper and lower bolts in your rear shocks are torqued properly and that the associated bushings are in good shape?

All good there. It’s strange. I can bounce this truck seven ways from Sunday and not hear it. I have to do a very specific bounce to get it to make noise.

 

[George B]

Guys,
I am almost certain it is the position 4 body mount. I took the bolt out and took it for a ride. Sound was still there but not as much. I am guessing I need to unbolt all of them down that side in order to lift the body enough to get it out of there...

 

[George B]

Anybody ever change a body mount or do the isolators on one of these?