ACR Rattler Status Report

[Vipergtsbob]

As I noted in earlier posts still no word from Dodge regarding our group submission. After several inquiries I finally was able to procure the direct addresses for all of the DC persons who can help us. A follow up letter went out today. I will post the response when received. Not happy fellas with our attempt to provide an organized inquiry and avoid Dodge having to deal with a whole batch of corraspondence from many unhappy ACR owners. But a solution is still our objective and a little more patience is needed. We'll see..... (and we are not going away either)
Bob Carroll

 

[ACR Joe]

Thanks for the update Bob. I do expect all the usual suspects to weigh-in here. Kevin you're in! John? Sean?

I've continued to pursue the Dealer which is a ridiculous exercise in futility. I call and leave messages for the Service Mgr. who apparently is too busy to return my calls. That further exacerbates my frustration. Even if there is nothing new to report, at least return my calls.

The car still rattles like a bucket o' bolts. Oh, for those that said simply get a louder exhaust system - I did and I can still hear the rattling!

I installed a new set of Koni's which I was told would solve the problem. Surprise - they didn't. I've had the shocks off six times looking for anything that might pinpoint the cause. As much as I have a hard time believing it, the internal valving must be at fault.

Bob - thanks for your perseverance and commitment to resolving this issue. I appreciate your efforts and hope that eventually we will realize our objective of rattle free shocks.

 

[Viper Wizard]

Ok rattlers here's an update report on"TATORIZING"ACR'S[anti-rattle cure]!"JOHN ACR"[99 bk/bk] has over 300 miler with NO rattles!!!![Waiting for DC is like watching grass grow!]I'm currently working with my local supplier to get massive quantities of hardware that I need to make up the "Anti-rattle Packages" for all ACR'S.I should have an answer by next week-Please bare with me.The cure is not far off.[JOE&BOB if your are willing to take a day off and come see me I'd be glad to use your ACR'S as the second&third test vehicles for the cure][Tatorizing]."I'll do your Viper's for FREE!" Just to prove that my fix works.Call me at the Dealership[914-763-3136]. For everybody else It won't be to much longer.Hang in there!-HQ- VIPER WIZARD

 

[John ACR]

Count me in. Even though I am the proud owner of the only TATORIZED ACR on the planet (1 of 1). Hey Joe & Bob that sounds like an offer you can't refuse from Chuck. We can use the data points.

 

[GTS Dean]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Viper Wizard:
...currently working with my local supplier to get massive quantities of hardware that I need to make up the "Anti-rattle Packages" for all ACR'S.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

FWIW -

I'm guessing it's closer-tolerance bolts & cones with bushings.

That would take a good bit of machining for "packages."

 

[Kevin ACR]

I'm a little confused on this whole "Tattorizing" thread.

Since it seems to be cloaked in a taunting post sort of secrecy, I'm under the impression that it is a money making proposition. That's fine, but if its really as simple as it sounds (didn't I hear 5 minute job?) then it'll be short lived as a saleable item if it is priced for too much profit.

Personally I'm tired of getting excited to see a title like "ACR Rattle fix" only to once again see another "crying wolf" post! Why did they post so early if there was no info they were willing to share?

I don't know about the others, but my ACR doesn't make much noise . Yeah I wouldn't mind eliminating the "chuckle" i periodically hear, but I'm not loosing sleep over it. This car rocks!

Sorry for the attitude, just look to the board as a means of sharing successes with Viper fixes and issues. Personally I'm turned off by their approach to the whole thing.

 

[Joseph Houss]

Sean,

You know you solved the rattler problem a long time ago! When you put the headers and pipes on your Snake! They're definitely a rattle eliminator (or should I say neutralizer)

 

[ACR Joe]

KEVIN ACR:

As far as I know, I am the only other person that made a substantive physical effort to solve the problem. I'm sorry my extensive efforts failed to produce the desired result but I'm only one guy laying on my back TRYING to make a difference instead of just whining about it.

Your tired? So am I but I have a better reason to be tired, I've actually tried to correct the problem and never once withheld information. I reported my prognosis, updated progress as well as the disappointing final results.

 

[GTS Dean]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Kevin Salt:
But let's call a spade a spade, and stop the bogus excuses.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I usually call a spade a shovel.

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Frankly, I think that most of the noise originates from slop between the shock mounting ears of the frame and the 7/16" diameter bolts. There's 1/8" of rattle clearance there (top only at rear, top and bottom up front.) The simplest treatment (not a cure-all) is to loosen the mounting bolts and retorque them with weight on the tires.

Additionally, the metal valve stacks on the shock pistons pop like the tamper-resistant metal top on an iced tea or fruit juice bottle when they blow off (jounce and rebound.) That noise goes right up the polish rod, thru the steel heim joint in the top eye, into the bolt, then into the ears of the upper shock mounts on the frame, echo in the hatch area and annoy the driver. The standard Konis may do it too, they just have less aggressive valving and are rubber bushed at the top, so don't transmit the noise.

 

[Kevin ACR]

ACR JOE:

I appreciate all you tried with your car, and I really did enjoy reading your findings. Sorry if your bothered by my post, sure wasn't my intention.

I was directing my statement toward the repetitive posts regarding tatorizing the car, with no substantive information for the reader. Just always the tease with "more to follow".

Joe, from what you've done I believe if it was easy, simple or quick you would have found it by now. Thanks for you effort.

 

[ACR Joe]

Kevin ACR:

Thanks for your follow up post and words of support. I assure you that I too am frustrated by this issue and I let a bit of that frustration creep into my earlier post to you. I regret the misunderstanding and remain committed to a final resolution.