B&O Sub-rattle Final Word?

[Stevenson James]

Many people have just found the mounting bolts loose. Tightening them back up (with a bit of blue loctite for good measure) fixes it for some. (this was what caused my own rattle)

So, there are the clips mentioned in the TSB. I found that using the updated clips the panel was significantly harder to get back off - so be aware of that. (this didn't fix my rattle at all, and made it a giant pain to get the panel back off, but it's done so ...)

Some people have had luck wrapping the sub enclosure / inner surface of the quarter panel in Dynamat. (I did this when I had it apart just because it was there and accessible, and couldn't hurt, but it didn't fix my rattle)

For some, it's not the sub itself rattling, but something nearby - like stuff mounted on a molle panel or tailgate in the back. (I've had this happen before to me as well, but usually easy to figure out - first step in figuring out the rattle is get everything out of the rear end that you possibly can)

I've seen two occurrences of people having a cracked mount on the quarter panel itself and that causing a rattle. So that isn't exactly common but something to look out for

I see so many posts on rattles and have followed a bit of them. I put dynamat in the cargo area and replaced the blue plastic clips with white amazon ones. I also put Mabett Cargo Sidewall Protector on the plastic panels, which i dont know if that helped or not but i have eliminated almost all rattles. There is one that that sounds and feels like the subwoofer itself, not any of the panels. Almost like the bass causes the diaphragm to rattle. I was going to take apart the cargo area this weekend and put some extra rubber strips and weatherstripping at trim contact points with the vehicle but your note sounds interesting.
My symptoms seem like something that could potentially be related to the sub mounting bolts. I had previously thought about checking them and putting some rubber washers on them.
Can you give any more information on this? Or link to a how-to? When i had the cargo area apart for the dynamat, i didnt immediately see an easy way to find the bolts. Maybe i wasnt looking hard enough.

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[Brian_B]

I see so many posts on rattles and have followed a bit of them. I put dynamat in the cargo area and replaced the blue plastic clips with white amazon ones. I also put Mabett Cargo Sidewall Protector on the plastic panels, which i dont know if that helped or not but i have eliminated almost all rattles. There is one that that sounds and feels like the subwoofer itself, not any of the panels. Almost like the bass causes the diaphragm to rattle. I was going to take apart the cargo area this weekend and put some extra rubber strips and weatherstripping at trim contact points with the vehicle but your note sounds interesting.
My symptoms seem like something that could potentially be related to the sub mounting bolts. I had previously thought about checking them and putting some rubber washers on them.
Can you give any more information on this? Or link to a how-to? When i had the cargo area apart for the dynamat, i didnt immediately see an easy way to find the bolts. Maybe i wasnt looking hard enough.

Mine has the similar thing going on now - a certain frequency will set off a buzzing - I think I have a loose panel clip somewhere, but right now I haven't been bothered enough to tear it all back apart just for that. But it will drive me crazy enough soon to do so.

There are 4 bolts on the subwoofer enclosure itself. It bolts into the steel of the quarter panel on standoffs. If you have the trim off and are looking at the subwoofer, the bolts are near the 4 corners of the enclosure, but aren't immediately obvious since they aren't very long and are back against the steel. But they aren't hard to get at once you locate them, and once you see one it's obvious. I think the two lower bolts are in slotted grooves on the enclosure so you can get them started and adjust the enclosure fitment to get the two upper ones in easier.

I don't have any readily available pictures or I would show one. Once the four bolts are off the entire subwoofer enclosure comes right out.

There have been some reports of cracked standoffs in the steel on these mounts too. So look out for that

 

[Stevenson James]

Mine has the similar thing going on now - a certain frequency will set off a buzzing - I think I have a loose panel clip somewhere, but right now I haven't been bothered enough to tear it all back apart just for that. But it will drive me crazy enough soon to do so.

There are 4 bolts on the subwoofer enclosure itself. It bolts into the steel of the quarter panel on standoffs. If you have the trim off and are looking at the subwoofer, the bolts are near the 4 corners of the enclosure, but aren't immediately obvious since they aren't very long and are back against the steel. But they aren't hard to get at once you locate them, and once you see one it's obvious. I think the two lower bolts are in slotted grooves on the enclosure so you can get them started and adjust the enclosure fitment to get the two upper ones in easier.

I don't have any readily available pictures or I would show one. Once the four bolts are off the entire subwoofer enclosure comes right out.

There have been some reports of cracked standoffs in the steel on these mounts too. So look out for that

appreciate all the info. Thank you.

 

[zone23]

I've said before to check the bolts around the sub thats what was wrong with mine, that said if I was going to take it all apart again I would apply some lock-tight to the bolts. Oh yeah and play music while you're checking the bolts until it stops.

 

[Stevenson James]

Mine has the similar thing going on now - a certain frequency will set off a buzzing - I think I have a loose panel clip somewhere, but right now I haven't been bothered enough to tear it all back apart just for that. But it will drive me crazy enough soon to do so.

There are 4 bolts on the subwoofer enclosure itself. It bolts into the steel of the quarter panel on standoffs. If you have the trim off and are looking at the subwoofer, the bolts are near the 4 corners of the enclosure, but aren't immediately obvious since they aren't very long and are back against the steel. But they aren't hard to get at once you locate them, and once you see one it's obvious. I think the two lower bolts are in slotted grooves on the enclosure so you can get them started and adjust the enclosure fitment to get the two upper ones in easier.

I don't have any readily available pictures or I would show one. Once the four bolts are off the entire subwoofer enclosure comes right out.

There have been some reports of cracked standoffs in the steel on these mounts too. So look out for that

so I took everything apart and didnt see any immediate cause for the rattle. I ruled out any of the plastic trim, and put some amazon trim clips with some 3d printed TPU washers. That reduced the slight vibration i had in the panels. But it seems the sub itself is the culprit.
I removed the enclosure and saw the wires behind it, but nothing seemed immediately like it could be a problem. I dont think the sub could be hitting the wires.
It seems that the rattle is only when the woofer hits full flex. Not an official troubleshooting step, but when i pressed a bit of the rubber gasket/diaphragm, on those bass hits, the rattle stopped.

I sealed everything back up and used some loctite. Not sure what my next step is. A coworker said suggested removing the sub from the enclosure and seeing if the rattle continued. Not sure what that would prove other than whether or not its hitting the wires or anything in the enclosure. I have a video but for some reason it didnt record the sound.

 

[Brian_B]

It seems that the rattle is only when the woofer hits full flex. Not an official troubleshooting step, but when i pressed a bit of the rubber gasket/diaphragm, on those bass hits, the rattle stopped.

It’s possible part of the cone is starting to separate from the driver and that’s what is causing it in your case. Fix for that is a new speaker though, if that’s the issue

 

[Stevenson James]

It’s possible part of the cone is starting to separate from the driver and that’s what is causing it in your case. Fix for that is a new speaker though, if that’s the issue

Is there an easy way to confirm this is the issue?

if it’s a warranty thing (purchased 4/5/24) I have no issues pursuing it. Else, I’ll just upgrade the sub.

 

[Brian_B]

Is there an easy way to confirm this is the issue?

if it’s a warranty thing (purchased 4/5/24) I have no issues pursuing it. Else, I’ll just upgrade the sub.

Sometimes you can see it physically but not always. If you are looking at a warranty claim you should just take it in to the dealer and show them.

 

[mdube72]

I see so many posts on rattles and have followed a bit of them. I put dynamat in the cargo area and replaced the blue plastic clips with white amazon ones. I also put Mabett Cargo Sidewall Protector on the plastic panels, which i dont know if that helped or not but i have eliminated almost all rattles. There is one that that sounds and feels like the subwoofer itself, not any of the panels. Almost like the bass causes the diaphragm to rattle. I was going to take apart the cargo area this weekend and put some extra rubber strips and weatherstripping at trim contact points with the vehicle but your note sounds interesting.
My symptoms seem like something that could potentially be related to the sub mounting bolts. I had previously thought about checking them and putting some rubber washers on them.
Can you give any more information on this? Or link to a how-to? When i had the cargo area apart for the dynamat, i didnt immediately see an easy way to find the bolts. Maybe i wasnt looking hard enough.

@Stevenson James - can you provide the part number for the replacing the blue clips with white ones ?

 

[Brian_B]

@Stevenson James - can you provide the part number for the replacing the blue clips with white ones ?

If I’m not mistaken the blue clips are the post TSB replacements. The pre-TSB clips that should be replaced are a button style - part stays in the frame and part stays on the panel and they snap together.

The single piece ones that don’t have the button snap (blue) are the good ones

 

[Stevenson James]

@Stevenson James - can you provide the part number for the replacing the blue clips with white ones ?

The blue clips are better than the button clips and my ‘24 had the blue clips.
After a few removals of the trim, some of the blue clips broke a bit. So I used white ones purchased off Amazon. Which are cheaper than replacement blue clips and seem to work just as well if not better. But for added benefit, I put some TPU washers that I 3D printed on them.
The clips from amazon are below.
https://a.co/d/1KeLFXw

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