Rear Deck Rattle?

[riggz]

I have this rattle noise that comes from the rear whenever I go over bumps in the road or uneven pavement. Sounds like something is loose. I thought I read somewhere for a fix for this, but I can't seem to locate a thread on it. Has this been addressed before?

Thanks.

[Ilya]

My car rattles like a mofo with any sort of bass in the music. Either all of my speakers are bad (vibrating too much making that short farting noise) or the plastics around them are shot.

That's my only issue with the interior of my car. I'm hoping when I replace them in the spring, it'll get rid of that annoying as fart/rattle.

It's mostly in the rear deck lid like you, but bumps don't trigger it.

[riggz]

Yeah mine is definitely not from the bass. Its only when I go over any rough patches of road. Kinda sounds like Styrofoam squeak when rubbing against some metal or plastic.

[ellis]

And I thought I was the only one with this mystery rattle. I thought it was something in the suspension or something wasn't screwed tight enough to the rear deck. I was planning to take a look into it when I had the trunk liner out but I forgot to. I only remember there's a rattle when I hear it. Then I remember I need to check it out.

Blake

[jesustorres85]

I replaced the factory 10'' Bose sub with a Pioneer shallow mount 10'' sub being pushed by a 1000w rms Rockford Fosgate amp and my rear deck makes so much noise that I don't listen to music in my car anymore. I can't wait for the warmer weather to come back so I can go out to the garage and fix the rattling issue on that rear deck.

[riggz]

Wow a 1000w free air sub? I can imagine the rattle!

[jesustorres85]

Wow a 1000w free air sub? I can imagine the rattle!

Yeah it sounds great 'cept for the rattle. But it's 23 degrees out here in Chicago right now and I'm not gonna sit out in the cold just for that.

[M45sNhappy]

Ok, I don't have any squeak, or squeak/rattle, but my bass from the woofer was giving me a little hell. So, I got into the trunk, pulled down the cover and wa-la!! I went to 'Michaels' the art store if you will. I purchased pillow/cotton filling. "The crap that they fill stuffed animals with." I just pushed (into the pre-cut holes) two bags full into the canopy. (Yes it will fit) I have to say that just about 98% of the bass rattle has dissipated. It actually made the bass speaker sound better. I think in a way more sound is coming into the car instead of the trunk. It has to be the right song, and the right pitch bass for the back canopy to rattle now ever so slightly. Real easy fix.

[carrot]

Had the same thing on my 2007 M-35, it's defective shocks and they now know about them , they replaced both rear shocks today along with three other cars with the same complaint. Infiniti of Coconut Creek , FL

[infinitedrift]

Had the same thing on my 2007 M-35, it's defective shocks and they now know about them , they replaced both rear shocks today along with three other cars with the same complaint. Infiniti of Coconut Creek , FL

Was that replaced under warranty or a recall. If warranty im out,ill just have to do the stuff animal fix..

[carrot]

Replaced under warranty.

[riggz]

Had the same thing on my 2007 M-35, it's defective shocks and they now know about them , they replaced both rear shocks today along with three other cars with the same complaint. Infiniti of Coconut Creek , FL

That's what mine ended up being. The dealer ordered the shocks and should have them installed tomorrow. I think my car visited the dealership Coconut Creek, FL before I bought it. I seem to remember that being on file.

[Poirot]

Had the same thing on my 2007 M-35, it's defective shocks and they now know about them , they replaced both rear shocks today along with three other cars with the same complaint. Infiniti of Coconut Creek , FL

That's what mine ended up being. The dealer ordered the shocks and should have them installed tomorrow. I think my car visited the dealership Coconut Creek, FL before I bought it. I seem to remember that being on file.

I am starting to have the same thing. Most of the time I have the radio on and don't hear it, but I did today. Do you know if there is a TSB for it?


Poirot

[akstraw]

I had a rattle coming from the rear as well in my 2008 M35X. It sounded like a suspension noise to me, but to be sure I removed the spare, the jack and all the trunk floor panels, first. But the noise was still there. I took it to the dealer. At first they thought is was a loose vacumn cannister (I didn't know there was one back there), and tightened and shimmed that, but then on the test ride the noise was still there. After removing all the stuff from the trunk and going for a ride with a technician in the trunk, they concluded it was the shock. They've ordered one which will be installed next week; all under warranty.

[About Tree Fiddy]

My 2009 has been rattling for quite a while and I finally had time to take it in today. My service writer was familiar with the problem and said it was probably an upper shock mount issue that they modify to fix the noise. I just got a call saying that was the problem and they will have it fixed shortly and ready to go. It will be nice to get rid of that rattle which has been bugging me for months.

[audtatious]

I am starting to have the same thing. Most of the time I have the radio on and don't hear it, but I did today. Do you know if there is a TSB for it?


Poirot

No TSB or VSC currently available for this rattle, so the warranty claim for this repair ultimately lies at your local Infiniti Dealership's own discretion — make sure that you can replicate the noise for them to hear!

[Poirot]

I am starting to have the same thing. Most of the time I have the radio on and don't hear it, but I did today. Do you know if there is a TSB for it?


Poirot

No TSB or VSC currently available for this rattle, so the warranty claim for this repair ultimately lies at your local Infiniti Dealership's own discretion — make sure that you can replicate the noise for them to hear!

Yeah. I just finally got around to dropping off the car. It was making the rattle on the way to the dealer. It is not earth shattering but it is there. The service guy said he has only replaced the shock on one M45 in the last 2 years, and it had over 80k. If they can't correct it, the rattle, I guess I will have to try another dealer. We shall see.

Poirot

[riggz]

I had to take mine in twice for them to fix the rattle. The first time they replaced the rear shocks and strut towers and added Dynamat between the mount and the body. The rattle was back in a few days. So they added more Dynamat and tightened em down even more. The rattle is STILL there when going over larger bumps and I suspect it will get worse with time. I am going to check out the ACTUAL rear deck and see if that is the culprit when I can get my wife to drive me around while I sit in the back seat.

[FndMspot]

I also have been plagued by a rear rattle coming from the supspension. The dealer has performed the following:
1. tightned the spare wheel nut and housing, did not resolve.
2. shimmed the vacuum cannister with no resolve.
3. replaced right rear shock with no resolve.
i am going back in two days with another appointment and will pass any feedback you guys have. I have heard that the whole unit for the shock assembly replacment does resolve?
thanks!

[riggz]

I have heard that the whole unit for the shock assembly replacment does resolve?

They did this to mine but it did not solve the rattle issue. Im thinking mine is coming from the actual plastic rear deck.

[mexillis]

for the ones with this issue what was the mileage of your car when it needed to be replaced and what type of roads do you drive on?

[About Tree Fiddy]

I took my 2009 M35S in a couple of weeks ago as stated above and the car has been rattle free ever since. Mine started doing it with less than 10,000 miles on it but since the dealer moved across town since I purchased the car I just hadn't found time to take in. It appears they just did a modification of the existing sleeve.

Here is a description on the work order of what they did.

Bushing is contacting securing washer when shock is compressed over bumps. Trimmed sleeve and cleaned/lubed bushings. Reinstalled all removed parts redrove and noise is now resolved.

[riggz]

for the ones with this issue what was the mileage of your car when it needed to be replaced and what type of roads do you drive on?

Paved.

[mexillis]

LMAO

[mcrews]

Wow.......I have the same FXXXXXXXg rattle in my 02Q45!!!!But im on my 2nd set of shocks....exact same noise. kinda like something is loose. Doesn't do it all the time. just certain small bumps. it is definately suspension related and on the right rear. I gutted the entire rear and took of the trunck lid.......still can't isolate it. But it does seem to be the rtight rear tower.

mex.....225000 and small bumps in the road like where a road repair was done. Never hear it on the freeway...mainly around city streets

[06M4.5]

I would replace your swaybar links, they are known to make noise when going over bumps or pot-holes.

I did the front at 59k mls and waiting for warmer days to do the rears.

[akstraw]

Mine started around 52,000 miles (2008 M35x). I can hear the noise around town, especially on speed bumps and RR tracks and on secondary roads that have bumps.
Not on the open highway. The dealer called yesterday, and the new shock assembly (supposedly the problem0 is in. I will have it installed next week, and see if that is the fix.

[Poirot]

Just got my car back yesterday, and of course the rattle is still there. Looks like I will have to take it back when I have time, gotta work this weekend. Now there is another anomaly. At speed, my rear end seems to be 'hunting', most noticeably in curves; but then again, there is alot of sand and salt out there..... I checked the work order and couldn't tell whether there was an alignment don or not. I would have assumed they would do one if they were replacing major suspension components. Can anybody tell if there was an alignment done on their work orders?

Thanks
Poirot

[SteveTheTech]

Hey fellas,

I have to say I made it about half way through this thread before clicking the Post Reply button. I've got to start by saying the rear of the M rattles in several common way. I see three very different noises described in the first dozen posts here. Noises are often not well described by not just the owners but many service consultants at the dealer level.

Let me give you all a little background I have been chasing noises in Ms since 2006. The bass rattle is the most common and one of the hardest to pinpoint. I absolutely love this fix.

I just pushed (into the pre-cut holes) two bags full into the canopy. (Yes it will fit) I have to say that just about 98% of the bass rattle has dissipated.

Not only does that add some density it should actually help dissipate the vibrations in the fairly thin rear deck.
I had a guy once used expanding foam on the inside of the car to do the same thing. Also Dynamat (or other suitable insulator) on the inside of the door shell makes a world of difference in directing the sound waves in one direction while absorbing the inverted wave that fills the door cavity.

Ok back to the conversation,
I have spent at least 1 solid week chasing noises for free in the backs of these cars. The rear shocks on some models make a thud, that sounds like the week is breaking contact with the ground, on certain driveways other similar road surfaces. There is the speaker rattle we talked about. There have been a few that various suspension noises that are being carried though the cabin.

At the end of the day a thread like this should actually be broken into a dozen smaller threads based on the exact type of noise. This is how misinformation becomes prevalent online. I have seen a few threads like this in my time here but this one is by far the most active. It looks like as the M starts to get some time on it they are settling a little and as we learned with the "trambling" issues a few years back these cars are very sensitive.

One quick word of advice to anyone chasing the bass associated rattle, try a small rubber mallet, it seems to generate a similar frequency that will really help when you are trying to isolate components without turning the radio to an earbleed inducing level.

[SteveTheTech]

Wow.......I have the same FXXXXXXXg rattle in my 02Q45!!!!But im on my 2nd set of shocks....exact same noise. kinda like something is loose.

Actually I do not think you have the same noise. The suspension on your car and the car itself are very different.

I bet you have a bad stabilizer link, that is assuming everything in your rear suspension is in good working order. Grab the end link and move it, looking for play and resistance to movement. Typically thats a cheap fix, if properly diagnosed.