Creak, Popping Noise from Rear of Vehicle - bracket bump clunk frame joint knock loose noise pop rattle reinforcement support suspension

When servicing the vehicle with the VIN you entered, the following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the described symptoms.

The customer may complain of a creak or popping noise coming from the rear of the vehicle near the fuel tank area. The noise usually occurs when the chassis is twisted such as traveling over a speed bump in a diagonal direction and can be from the left or right side of the vehicle.

Remove the fuel tank. Looking up at the center of the vehicle, follow the tunnel coming downward. At the end of the tunnel, there is a metal piece that runs on a 45 degree angle from the center tunnel out to the main frame rail on each side of the vehicle. The metal piece is welded where it meets the frame rail. In this area, there is an additional vertical metal piece (gusset) between the chassis sheet metal and the metal piece previously mentioned. This gusset is welded to the frame on the inboard side. Poor weld penetration between this gusset and the frame rail could be the cause of the noise. Welding the gusset will correct this condition.

Please follow this diagnosis process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed. If these steps do not resolve the condition, please contact GM TAC for further diagnostic assistance. This diagnostic approach was developed for the vehicle with the VIN you entered and should not be automatically be used for other vehicles with similar symptoms.

99, 00 Chevrolet Corvette