01 Silverado Rattle

ericb · December 26, 2006

I have a 2001 2WD Reg cab Silverado with 57K miles.

There is a rattle somewhere behind the instrument panel...

It is intermitent. I have to drive over something like the track for an automatic gate for this rattle to happen.

It sounds like metal slapping on metal.

I had the instrument panel off, found nothing, drove it for 2 days, nothing.

Got as far up under the dash as I could and found nothing loose.

Reading different posts here and abroad, I need to look at brake pads, and shock mounts... any other suggstions?

Thanks

yukon4wd · December 28, 2006

Sounds like a steering shaft issue.

ericb · December 28, 2006

Sounds like a steering shaft issue.

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The steering shaft was just replaced.

This seems to be something different. (unfortunatley, I am all to familiar with the steering shaft problems, I've dealt with them on my last 3 trucks).

I'm going to look at the breaks next, or maybe something loose on the firewall.

Thanks!

JPBeard21 · January 1, 2007

Sounds like a steering shaft issue.

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The steering shaft was just replaced.

This seems to be something different. (unfortunatley, I am all to familiar with the steering shaft problems, I've dealt with them on my last 3 trucks).

I'm going to look at the breaks next, or maybe something loose on the firewall.

Thanks!

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I have a similar problem with my '01 Sierra Ext. Cab. My truck has around 140k miles and has just started making this rattle which has become worse lately. It only occurs during acceleration/deceleration between 15mph and 25-30mph. It sounds like something from the undercarriage is vibrating because of the tires needing to be replaced due to not rotating often enough, ie choped. I just had them rotated and rebalanced and the noise almost went away completely but is now starting to come back again. I had my tailpipes rewelded to the frame and no difference. It sounds like it is coming directly from under the center of the truck. Any ideas what might be rattling/vibrating enough to sound like it's going to fall off or break? It really sounds bad and makes me not want to drive it although I just bought it six months ago and is otherwise in excellent condition.

CoastyAV8R · January 1, 2007

JPBeard, have you looked at your carrier bearing for the driveshaft?

Eric, Is the noise in the cab or engine bay? Those rattle will drive you nuts. I would tear the dash apart as far as you can yet still be able to drive it and drive it like that for a few days and it may reveal the problem. I had a rattle in my door for years when the window and I finally yanked the door panel and found the only thing keeping the bolts in my window regulator was the fact the door panel was still on and would allow them to back out any further.

ericb · January 1, 2007

Yes, I have had the dash apart and drove it for 2 days.

After doing that, it seems like it might be on the firewall.(engine side)

I have the "typical" ABS plastic noises, but this other rattle sounds like metal on metal.

I have since ruled out the breaks being the source.

I do know the break pedal seems to move too much left to right, and that is causing some noise, but not the metal on metal.

I almost want to say maybe it's the wiper motor underneath the cowl??

Or maybe the break booster?

I'll keep looking and post what I find.

Thanks,

Eric

ratchet · January 1, 2007

I don't want to hijack this thread but I thought you would find this interesting. My grandpa bought a 66 ford 3/4 ton truck brand new and it had a rattle in the drivers side door from day one. He never let it bother him but spoke of it often saying it had been there for years. In 1999 he gave me the truck with 54,000 original miles on it. I took the door panel off to see what that rattle was and there was a coke can in the door. Apparantly a person on the assembly line was drinking a coke and put it in the door and forgot about it or something. That coke can rode in that door for 33 years.

ericb · January 1, 2007

I don't want to hijack this thread but I thought you would find this interesting. My grandpa bought a 66 ford 3/4 ton truck brand new and it had a rattle in the drivers side door from day one. He never let it bother him but spoke of it often saying it had been there for years. In 1999 he gave me the truck with 54,000 original miles on it. I took the door panel off to see what that rattle was and there was a coke can in the door. Apparantly a person on the assembly line was drinking a coke and put it in the door and forgot about it or something. That coke can rode in that door for 33 years.

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Thats good stuff right there!!!!

Cranky1 · January 2, 2007

Yes, I have had the dash apart and drove it for 2 days.
After doing that, it seems like it might be on the firewall.(engine side)

I have the "typical" ABS plastic noises, but this other rattle sounds like metal on metal.

I have since ruled out the breaks being the source.

I do know the break pedal seems to move too much left to right, and that is causing some noise, but not the metal on metal.

I almost want to say maybe it's the wiper motor underneath the cowl??

Or maybe the break booster?

I'll keep looking and post what I find.

Thanks,

Eric

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I had 2 different rattles for 3 years that I could not figure out. The 1st one was like a metal ball bearing that would make a rolling noise on every corner I would take. That sounded like it was under the drivers seat.

The 2nd was a rattle sounded like it was behind the gages as well but more to the left side of the dash vent.

One day I was cleaning the carpets and took the trim off the driver side rear seat base and found a 6 inch door pin rolling around. (not even close to a hing pin that they would use on our trucks) I then took off the kick panel and rocker panel trim on the drivers side and found a 4" 1/4 drive ratchet extension and a 10 mm socket. That cured both my rattles in the same day.

The 1st time I cleaned my cabin filters I found 2 gaged nuts and a trim screw in the trim panel you drop down to get at the filters.

I have one more rattle in the drivers door that I need to figure out, maybe it will be a gold bracelet or something of value.