Low tone rattle from column/dash at idle

[perk]

I am becoming obsessed with this annoying auditory offense resonating from my steering column dash area at idle. It perhaps is originating from another area on the DS and just appears to be in the column/dash area, but that is where I hear it.

It is a low-toned, almost quick and light thumping, rattle. It only appears at idle and immediately goes away upon slight acceleration. It was present before I serviced the birfields, however one aspect of it has changed. Before, the rattle/light thumping would go away when I turned the steering wheel in either direction, but now it only goes away when the wheel is turned to the left (all while stopped at idle).

I don't know if there is any connection, but it sounds like something is loose with my DS shock. When I go over bumps, there is a low-toned thumping like rattle (while I've given it the same description, it is a distinctly different sounding rattle than the one I am describing around the column/dash area) that sounds like something loose is jiggling. I'm not so concerned about this one, as I believe/hope it will go away once I replace my suspension, but the one sounding from the column/dash area is driving me a little crazy (I know my wife is getting real tired of me focussing on it at every stop.)

Anyone else got this or have any ideas what it might be??

Thanks
Perk

 

[Dirk Diggler]

No bright ideas, but I have a similar sound that ended up being the front drive shaft. For the dash take it apart, re-tighten everything and silicon the areas where the plastic panels "touch" each other. There seems to be a million things that can vibrate on an 80. Good luck.

 

[ogsuv]

I had more of an annoying buzzing sound. At certain rpms, the steel safety panel behind the plastic panel under column panel would resonate. drove me crazy.

Ended up covering the steel panel with sound deadening you can get at car audio shops or part stores, dead quiet now. Kind of sounds like your noise is originating elsewhere though..........

 

[IdahoDoug]

The suspension thump is a common 80 sound. Low toned, heavy component sound on the right bump, right? It's the axle stubs moving a bit in the long bronze bushing inside the spindle. No worries. Suspension change won't alter this a bit.

Can't help you on the dash/column thing.

DougM

 

[4x4CPOSEADOG]

I have a rattling/drumming noise somewhere in the center console. Have you guys experience that one? It annoying at freeway speed specially when hitting a pot hole. Looks like something is loose under the center console. Any idea what that is?

 

[perk]

I had more of an annoying buzzing sound. At certain rpms, the steel safety panel behind the plastic panel under column panel would resonate. drove me crazy.

Ended up covering the steel panel with sound deadening you can get at car audio shops or part stores, dead quiet now. Kind of sounds like your noise is originating elsewhere though..........

Did you find any parts loose once you got in there?

Steel safety panel behind the plastic panel under column panel sounds like ia tongue twister as well as possibly my problem, as the vibration/rattling I hear is not a plasticky sound. I guess my plan will be to go into the dash column area and see what I find.
Is it difficult to get in and out of this area?

Thanks
Perk