Rear hat tray rattle

[gr330zhp]

So I have been getting this rattle coming from my rear hat tray, below my rear window. It has come recently and is quite annoying honestly. My rear shock mounts are in good shape as is everything else suspension wise. My car has 66k miles on it

I read somewhere that the rear tray is wood/cardboard and rattles against the metal plate below? Anybody heard of this? Could I just put something (ie. foam or cloth) between to stop it?


Thanks guys
Stathi

[johnrando]

Sorry I can't help, as I don't have one in my car, but would you mind posting of pic of this? I'm guessing you are talking about the back shelf? If so, I've never heard it called a "hat tray". Interesting.

[gr330zhp]

I never really knew what it was called until I heard it being called a hat tray...i know it probably isnt the real term for it but it made sense as some people put hats there

But yes I am referring to the rear shelf where the speakers and child seat anchors are

[Oli77]

Maybe you can get some ideas from this one: http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=429992

Essentially stuffing the area with dense material like you mentioned.

[gr330zhp]

Maybe you can get some ideas from this one: http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=429992

Essentially stuffing the area with dense material like you mentioned.

Wow, very useful, thank you!

[Oli77]

[kayger12]

Oli- that is exactly what I needed.

Thanks!

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[static667]

Thanks for this one, guys. I completely removed the HK subs because they were the source of another rattle. That and I have a pair of Audiobahn 10's for my bass section. Now I can get rid of the rest of the rattle.

[billschusteriv]

Ugh. Not a fan of the mod.

Personally, I would use a cleaner approach using dynamat and MDF tubing/rings around the subwoofer openings that span the two rear decks.

IIRC, subwoofers are supposed to have a specific amount of air (measured in cubic feet) for them to fire into in order to give you that sound. The "improved bass response" or "harder hitting bass" is likely because the subwoofers are working harder, trying to pushing/moving a given amount of air in a smaller space.

And now that I say that, I notice that the HK subwoofer box has multiple openings... even looks "ported".

I would defer to other audiophiles that are better versed in the mechanics of car audio and subwoofer installation/custom enclosures.

[Oli77]

Bill, I think the air that is moved by the speaker has not changed in that mod on E46F. This insertion of a fibrous material in front of a speaker would certainly muffle a mid or higher frequency speaker, however, we are talking about a subwoofer here. Those low frequencies will pas through anything (including thick walls).

If worried, one could always cut the foamy substance out of the opening in front of the subwoofers.

The mod was more to reduce vibrations around the speakers (on the back shelf).