Hi all--

I'm trying to figure out where a rattle is coming from on my 82 T/A with 32,000 miles. T-tops, and everything up front is (surprisingly) rattle free--for the most part.

However, whenever I go over a stretch of Michigan pothole-laden roads, something in the rear of my car rattles like crazy. Maybe the hatch? I'm not sure. No rattles on smoother roads, just when I get a strip of bumps all together that upsets the body.

I checked the jack and spare tire, and they seem to be tight. I drove around with the back jack cover off, and the noise didn't seem to be coming from that area, so the only thing I could think of is that the hatch is moving when closed (note: I don't have a hatch pull-down on my 82).

I have new hatch struts on, the hatch closes tightly (it won't move at all if I try to jiggle it when it's latched shut), but I still think it's moving around on me, creating a big rattle.

What can I do? Is there a way to adjust this thing?

 

when i put my car back together after paint, i used rubber washers on each side of every nut and bolt i put back in the car.
i get a rattle every now and then, and i just give my hatch bumpers a turn and it seams to go away for a bit until i frequent the track.
runnning mid 10's in one of these cars... it gets rattles!
check the hatch bumpers. best advice i can give.
everything will rattle one day.