New member here with NA 1800 and an annoying exhaust rattle

[TACHS]

HALP!

Ok so this is my 2nd MX5, it's a '97 1800 and I just err fell for her good looks...

She has two annoying as hell vices though:
1
Exhaust rattle - I've dug around the forum and as a result have checkedfor loose heat shields on the CAT and around the exhaust etc, the rubber Hangers seem pretty ancient and the link bars at the rear seem past their best (have replacements for them-fitting in a couple of days).
Rattle doesn't happen when stationary regardless of REVS, and seems
related to bumps in the road.
Question: The rubber hangers - anyone else found such a rattle cured
by replacing these? (Then again it could be related to the link bars being
overly worn)

2
The dreaded 65mph shimmy. Ugh. Arghhh yuk.
So the usual cuplrit here is wheel balance and alingment related yes?

Aside from these two insanely annoying issues, she's everything I hoped she would be and it's great to be back in the MX5 crowd again.

BTW - Anyone know of a good balancing/alingment shop Pukekohe way?

Cheers

TACHS

[WideOpenThrottle]

Might be rear brake rattle like mine?

[last_resort14]

Another possible exhaust rattle which i currently have too, is where the exhaust mounts to the bell-housing of the gearbox, makes a really annoying noise

[TACHS]

It was the drivers side rear brake.
Found by applying handbrake while driving (gently) over rough road surface = no rattle.

It's currently in the shop to have new rear link bars fitted, brake (above) checked and fixed and then a balance & alignment.

I wonder if they take kidneys in payment?

Thanks to all who replied and to the forum in general for some good trouble shooting leads...

[TACHS]

Just got me baby back from the shop.
Replacing the Sway link bars has it seems nuked the rattle coming from the right rear brake - which it turns out IS missing it's rattle clips.
(trying to locate some now)

The balance and alignment has also greatly assisted the shimmy issue - it's reduced to non annoying levels now.

Only not so good news is that the rear shocks are going to need replacing pretty soon - oh well, it's still been a good buy (for an 1800)...

[SLYDIT]

if youre getting shimmy in an 1800 then something is wrong. they have the extra bracing in the rear to stop this. What are the tyres like??? When i bought my car it shimmied like a latin dancer!

it turned out that the RETREADS they put on the car to sell it were the culprit.

[TACHS]

if youre getting shimmy in an 1800 then something is wrong. they have the extra bracing in the rear to stop this. What are the tyres like??? When i bought my car it shimmied like a latin dancer!

it turned out that the RETREADS they put on the car to sell it were the culprit.

Same story I suspect with mine.. getting a balance and alignment has reduced the shimmy down to nearly invisible levels so I'm fairly happy with that for the moment... tires are going to need doing in the next 2 months anyway and will get rid of the suspected retreads on mine then...