Rattles

Dbbc

Dbbc

Senior Member
Aloha,
Trying to figure out what is rattling under my car, especially when I slow down and downshift. It sound like the rods are hitting the bottom of the car. However I have been under the car and the rod seemed pretty tight. Anyone has any ideas? Trying to make the car has quiet as possible (but for that nice muffler sound).
What are the most common or uncommon rattling parts on a Model A.
 
A dry speedometer cable can make some crazy noises at certain speeds..

Rattles are common

Your best bet is find a different way to duplicate it if possible when not moving..
a hubcap mallett is handy to use for tapping on things like an exhaust etc
 
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Wiggle the service brake cross shaft beneath the center crossmember. The bushings wear and allow the shaft to rattle against the lower frame rail upon hitting bumps. It's not a light rattle (such as brake rods), but a more substantial rattle/clunk. It is VERY common for these shafts to be loose in their brackets because the bushings are not all that easy to change. So, many "restorers" just ignore this phase of brake system rebuilding. Slop here also compromises braking efficiency = a double whammy!
If this isn't the cause of your noise, don't worry. There are only about a million other places where noises can (and do) originate in a Model A. :)
Marshall
 
To determine if it is tail pipe rattle temporarily drive a bit of wood shim stock in where the tail pipe goes through the hanger.
 
When that started happening on my otherwise silent driving fordor, it turned out the center main crank babbit was beginning to disintegrate. It only did it when decelerating or engine braking down a hill at first. I could have sworn (based upon the sound) that it was coming from under the car.

Eventually, the center main babbit failed completely and it meant an engine rebuild. That fixed the rattling sound under the car.
 
Dbbc said:
Aloha,
Trying to figure out what is rattling under my car, especially when I slow down and downshift. It sound like the rods are hitting the bottom of the car. However I have been under the car and the rod seemed pretty tight. Anyone has any ideas? Trying to make the car has quiet as possible (but for that nice muffler sound).
What are the most common or uncommon rattling parts on a Model A.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what my 28 Phaeton sounds like, and I still haven't found it.:confused:
It makes the noise only when going over a bump. My car has the split brake system used until late 28.
 
I have learned that the sound is not always where you think you hear it. Rattles travel in these machines. I was absolutely convinced that I had a rattle/clatter under my floorboards. After several weeks of searching it turned out to be the rods from the firewall to the radiator. The bracket on the radiator had broken loose and rod was bouncing around.

Ken
 
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