[JZeke]

Ok this isn't another thread on fixing rattles or creaks.

No, instead i'm wondering how many people suffer from the creaking/rattles just driving down a regular road, versus only while crossing really bad pavement. I ask because I really love my car on roads out in the suburbs of Chicago, where the roads are more consistently ok than crappy. However, on my daily commute along lakeshore drive and out I-55/Stevenson I encounter so much broken pavement it sometimes seems as if my car is going to fall apart.

For rattle sufferers, is it an intermittent problem thats part/parcel with bad pavement? Or do your cars make noises no matter what the pavement.

For instance, I get that annoying dash rattle on smooth roads sometimes, but otherwise the car only makes noises crossing rail road tracks - or the terrible pavement that makes up most of the nightmare that is Chicago's road network.

 

[Vector-SS]

My car used to be a disaster, smooth roads or not. On my last dealer visit, I told them that there was a rattle coming from the front left speaker.

At that time, my front dash was rattling/squeaking/creaking you name it. My front left vent (major source btw) was also loose and creaked constantly. I didn't mention it as I was planning to do it myself in fear they would scratch up my dash.

When I got the car back, I was honestly shocked. They actually fixed the entire front dash, the vents no longer moved, every thing was rock solid.

I don't know what they did, but I did notice there was some over spray around the dash area (which I was able to remove), but they really tightened up the entire thing, and it stopped creaking and rattling.

Fixing this really made a huge difference in my car and on smooth roads I won't hear a single creak, on slightly bad roads sometimes nothing - only when the roads become a battlefield is when the car rattles.

 

[jd1969]

My drivers seat makes a little noise from time to time, and I have noticed a few other small squeaks at times but not very much. I know it will get worse as the car gets older and I will be hunting them down and fixing them, as that stuff really drives me nuts.

 

[saabsmooth]

Creaking sounds

are coming from my car's front end...up driveway over bumps going fast... crunch sounds only started in the cold weather.Going to have dealer ck springs the 15th Otherwise the convertible top has some noise where the frame and top meet but 3 little pads about a 1/2 inch in diameter fixed this before.For a 5 year old car remarkably quiet

 

[Gs04aero]

I'm pretty sure 100% of the people in this section have numerous sounds that bother them ha. Even on good roads. On a flat smooth highway I have rattles from the front doors. Sometimes from the rear somewhere. Even sitting still in traffic. It's just how it is to me ha.

 

[JZeke]

I'm trying to get a gauge for how much im obsessing, and how much is actually rather noticeable... its just really hard when all I drive on is broken pavement. My WRX was a rattle trap new, but I solved all the major rattles. Thing is now, I can't tell if the Saab is any louder or quieter over the same roads. Hence why all this feedback is greatly appreciated!

 

[MooF]

It depends on temps, the type of road, (asphalt vs. concrete) time of day and full-moon or not.. Sometimes my 9-3 is as smooth as silk, other times is a rattle-bag. One thing that really helped was a bad wheel hub that was recently replaced. The car seems a lot quieter now. That and the fact the weather is beginning to slightly warm up, helps with the suspension creaks.

To be honest, I think its the nearly three years of listening to all the rattles that I am simply immune. I remember about one year into ownership I was at my wits end, and I attempted to soundproof all the doors and trunk, to very little worth. Now, I live with it and simply enjoy the times I'm driving along a smooth road and look forward to the day of owning a quieter ride.