LS1TECH - Camaro and Firebird Forum Discussion

Camaro and Firebird: Why is My Interior Rattling?

There's nothing more annoying than a rattling interior, but every car with some miles on it seems to have this problem eventually. Here's how to silence those rattles for good.

By Brett Foote - February 17, 2016

This article applies to the Camaro and Firebird (1990-2015).

Interior rattles are probably the most annoying and nagging issue you can experience inside a motor vehicle, and unfortunately, they are all too common in Camaros and Firebirds. The reasons these interiors rattle so frequently? Cheap plastic materials, vibrations caused by stiffer suspensions, screws that come loose over time, and cheap plastic. Did we mention cheap plastic? Regardless, there are ways to cheaply rid your interior of these evil noises other than cranking your radio up to a non-neighborhood friendly noise level.

Camaro and Firebird: Why is My Interior Rattling infographic

Materials Needed

  • Felt and spray adhesive or Peal and Seal (optional)
  • Sound-deadening material (optional)
  • Scissors
  • Screwdriver
  • Ratchet and socket set

Step 1 – Locate the source of the noise

Rattles can come from all different sorts of places.

First, determine where the rattle is coming from. Does the noise occur only when you are going over a bump, or is it constant? Is it coming from the suspension, dash, or spare tire area? Some rattles can be the result of a suspension issue such as worn shocks, bad bushings, or even springs. Also, verify that your tire pressure is within the range recommended by your tire manufacturer.

If the noise is coming from an interior panel, try to press down on it (or have a friend do so) to verify exactly which panel is making the noise. And don't be surprised if your rattle is something as simple as a coin laying underneath your spare tire, because it happens!

Figure 1. Locating the exact source of the rattle can often be difficult.
Figure 1. Locating the exact source of the rattle can take some time.

Once you have located the source of the rattle, move on to Step 2.

Step 2 – Take steps to eliminate the noise

You can buy expensive sound-deadening material, but it isn't necessary.

Dynamat is a popular sound-deadening material, and it works, but it's awfully expensive. You can save a ton of money and get similar results with some felt from a craft store and some spray adhesive, or Peel and Seal, a self adhesive material sold at big box stores, as well as some double-sided tape. Cut pieces to fit behind or between panels that are rattling, then use the spray adhesive to glue them in place (if you're using felt). Oftentimes, a piece of foam double-sided tape can simply be cut and fitted to solve this problem. If necessary, remove the interior panel in question and apply the material to the back of it. This method works great even on noisy t-tops; just be sure and use black tape or felt to fill the gap so it isn't noticeable.

Cut and apply felt or double sided foam tape to noisy interior panels
Figure 2. Cut and apply felt or double-sided foam tape to noisy interior panels.

If your rattles aren't solved by the tape and felt method, move on to Step 3.

Step 3 – Check for loose components

Screws and bolts tend to loosen over time and hard miles.

There are lots of screws and bolts used to hold an interior together, and it's completely normal for them to come loose over time. Grab a Phillips screwdriver and a socket set and go through your interior, looking for any loose screws and bolts. In addition to the interior panels, ash tray, kick panels, dash, and center console (all common culprits), check your spare tire. It's pretty common in the Camaro and Firebird for the spare tire to work its way loose. While you're back there, also check the rear hatch latch assembly – another common cause of dreaded interior rattles.

The spare tire area is known for causing rattles and squeaks
Figure 3. The spare tire area is known for causing rattles and squeaks.

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