I know that the fourth gen has rattles and knocks designed into them. But I hear peculiar sounds when I go over speed bumps. I have been hearing them for a looooong time now. Like maybe 2 years or something. But I go over the bump and I hear a few quick knocks, like knock knock knock knock within a span of maybe a second. (4 16ths with the quarter at 60, if you know what I mean.) Also, while I go over a bumpy road, I can hear a little rattle that's different. Both sound like they're coming from in front of the dashboard. I cannot figure what either of these noise are or if they are related. It doesn't involve the brakes. I'm sure of that. The one that's more of a rattle could be part of the heat shield for the exhaust. Just thought of that. A piece fell away a couple of years back. It had been hanging and I was trying to decide what to do about. People here on the org said just rip it, but it was gone already. I'll check that. But that would not explain the other knocking that happens sometimes.

Could the knock be motor mounts?

 

On my 95, I lost at least one of the exhaust mounts, probably two. As a result, I got some pretty loud knocking whenever I went over any bump. The exhaust pipe between the 1st & second muffler was bouncing on a cross member. I used a couple of hose clamps to tie it to the cross member, this eliminate some of the bouncing issues. The forward exhaust mount is up near the catalytic converter. There is a large flex hose forward of the cat as well. I would guess you lost the forward mount and you are hearing the exhaust pipe bouncing against the bottom of your car.

 

You know, I'll bet that's it. Best guess I've ever heard. I'm gonna lift and check and see.

 

I just started to notice this sound not sure when it started exactly. Kind of hard to hear anything in the car as it's been system-d. But i was pulling into the drive way and heard it.. I had my bro go under and hit the pipe and sure enough that was the exact same sound i was hearing when hitting a Bump.

 

I have had the same problem for about 2 months. I thought it happened right after I did my breaks, but I have checked them several times and they can't be it. I also get it when I shift hard into 2nd and 3rd. It is a real hard knock/knocking. It's like 2 hard things hitting against each other. I guess I will have to go check out the exhaust.

 

if rattles annoy you, you have no idea what your in for...

 

I wish they made a spray that got rid of rattles on 4th gens lol.

 

If you have access to a lift, put your car up on it. Then shake every part of your exhaust one by one, that should figure out where the rattling's coming from.