Mystery noise

camper guy · Post by **camper guy** » 21 Apr 2004, 07:51

My 95 850T sedan has this metalic rattle when I drive over bumps or ripples in the road. My mechanic says it's the performance muffler. I have grabbed and shaken this thing and nothing. Any ideas? Short of riding on a creeper while my wife drives down the road so I can listen I'm lost.

Post by **matthew1** » 21 Apr 2004, 10:10

Parking brake cable loose? It makes an annoying light metallic clinking sound.

camper guy · Post by **camper guy** » 21 Apr 2004, 16:40

I'll check that thanks. Is there a way to adjust the parking brake?

Post by **matthew1** » 21 Apr 2004, 17:43

Take the plastic cover off the handbrake... just below it actually, between the front seats. You'll see a hex nut... tighten. But here's the catch: this is the cheesy, easy way to do it. If you tighten too much, your parking brake will 'drag' on the wheel, and it will get glowing, flaming, smoking hot after a few miles of driving.

You must decide if you want to try this method or do it right -- see Haynes manual for correct way. It involves taking the rear wheels off, adjusting parking brake from there.

I gambled by just giving it a few turns. But before all that, just go under your 850 and look for the cable and see if it's knocking around. It may not even be the culprit.

camper guy · Post by **camper guy** » 22 Apr 2004, 06:48

I'll check to see if its loose underneath first. It makes sense because the parking break doesn't do squat to hold the car and the brake pads are less than 1/2 worn. They squeel anyway so I may have them replaced when I get a sticker next month since they have to take them off to lube them.

camper guy · Post by **camper guy** » 10 May 2004, 06:55

I brought my car in for a sticker and told my Mechanic the noise was making me nuts. Turns out he found a torsion bar that was loose because the mounting bracket had broken away and had it welded. No more noise!

Of course, 4 tires, 4 wheel alignment and removal of the stuck draw bar in the hitch receiver for a short $615.00 later I was back on the road. Nice to have new tires though.