Just finished an overhaul both front and back (new springs, struts/shocks, RSMs, LCAs, Tierods, Sway bar links both front/back, and RTABs). The ride is now AWESOME again but I still hear a rattle from the back when I go over a firm bump. It's nothing like it was before the RSMs were replaced but I was really hoping to get the vert almost rattle-free. Should I have replaced the upper/lower rear control arm bushings (PITA)?

Can our verts EVER be silent?

Exhaust hanger/shield maybe?

Should I have replaced the upper/lower rear control arm bushings (PITA)?I thought you did as you said you replaced the RTAB. Isn't the Rear Trailing Arm the same as the Control Arm?

There's a lower and upper wishbone and the trailing arm....

And apart from scuttle shake and roof frame rattles, I have no rattles or knocks from the rest of the car.

The wishbone's are exactly what I'm talking about. From most vendor sites that I've seen they've been refered to as control arms so I figured that was the standard lingo here.

Has everybody here replaced their bushings or should the stock one's still be functional after 13 years? I just haven't read many posts where people are complaining about these parts. More to the point I haven't found a DIY that addresses these either...any leads?

I was going bonkers with my folks' M3 convertible....the annoying rattles/squeeks from the rear were driving them crazy. I checked everything in the trunk, the exhaust hangers, the RSMs, the subwoofer casing, etc, etc. ...even the rear seats, the seatbelts, etc. The squeeking was still there....and it was coming from the rear.

It was a beautiful day in Cali, so I put down the top. And I drove down the street, the same street where I had heard the rattling/squeeking. And you know what, the majority of the noise was no longer there. Was it rattle free? Nope. But the squeeks which I thought were suspension/rear trunk related was gone. For me, it was the top.

Do you still hear the rattle when your top is down???

Do you still hear the rattle when your top is down???

Unfortunately, that's the only time I find myself caring :D

It really sounds like it's coming from underneath, on both sides. It's a two-tone rattle, like "thunk-tink" (ha, so ridiculous).

Has anyone made a checklist/perfected a methodology to root out these oddball sounds?