rear hatch rattle

[Easy Ed]

After reading here about the cause for the noise it was off to the garage I went to look. Could see where the rubber trim was contacting the lower lip of the hatch in the area where DRTYFN pictures show the trimmed piece of rubber trim. At first I was going to cut it off like in the photo but being the analytical (not anal ) person I am I wanted to know what was causing it. Then I remembered reading somewhere about "bending a piece of sheet metal" and that is when I noticed the bottom of the rear corners were not "stamped" at a perfect 90 degree inward. The rubber trim was being held to the rear of the Hummer by contacting the bad bend which in turn made it contact the bottom lip of the hatch. I put my fingers up underneath the rear corners and bent the "lip" upwards to clear the rubber trim by about .0625 (1/16") and now see that the rubber trim in its relaxed state doesn't touch the lower lip of the hatch. Took it for a test drive and no more noise, went to the in-laws last night for Thanksgiving dinner and no noise there and back. I think what happens is that while driving at highway speeds wind comes in the rear fender wells and "pushes" the rubber trim to the rear making contact with the lower lip of the hatch but because of the bad 90 degree bend in the sheet metal of the rear corners it holds it there causing the noise.

Want to say "thank you" to this site for its help in finding the location of the noise.

Also, Not going to say that this will work for everyone but that it may be a alternative way to stop the noise.

Easy Ed

[sonnieshades]

Thanks for the tip with the pictures. This was driving me crazy so 5 minutes before we took of to my in-laws I did the trimming..went 250miles there and back..ahhh silence. Thanks again!

[GOT DIRT?]

Easy where was the sheet metal you are talking about on the bumper or on the hatch itsself. I have not looked yet but i am going to try your solution first

[Easy Ed]

GOT DIRT, If you look at the pics of DRTYFN's and see where he cut it off and then you can see where the rest of the trim goes from there. It is along the top of the trim where it was touching the 90 degree bend in the sheet metal that I am talking about. I think the sheet metal was keeping the trim held back and causing it to make constant contact with the lip of the hatch were as I don't think the trim should be touching the sheet metal at all, just a assumption on my part This is only a possible fix, the reason I say this is because it has been raining and snowing here in Ohio and the water may have stopped the noise but, I do remember it making the noise on rainy days before so I am hoping when it clears up the noise is still gone.

Hope it helps, Easy Ed

[Perry]

This one little message thread has shown me how vital this forum can be. Thanks for all who have put their 2 cents in--like a bunch of mini-GM engineers. Totally awesome.