Gauge Cluster Rattling
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Gauge Cluster Rattling
Ever since I have owned my 79' vette I have heard rattling from the dashboard area. Always assumed it was a speaker cover or something, but the other day I realized the rattling stopped when I pressed forward on the clear plastic covering the gauge cluster right above the steering wheel. Has anyone had any similar issue before? I want to know if there is maybe a quick fix that doesn't involve replacing the cover.
Thanks
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
The design of that cluster assembly is in the category of 'rinky-dink'. There is one clear plastic lens panel and the anti-rattle strategy is to put some little pieces of soft plastic between that lens and the gauge housing behind it. If those pieces are missing or have dried up to the point that they no longer do their job, it's "rattle time".
Removing the cluster to properly fix your problem is a real PITA. So, you could temporarily wedge some soft vinyl/plastic in between the bezel and lens to quiet it down or come up with another way to take the 'slack' out of those assembled pieces.
Removing the cluster to properly fix your problem is a real PITA. So, you could temporarily wedge some soft vinyl/plastic in between the bezel and lens to quiet it down or come up with another way to take the 'slack' out of those assembled pieces.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
The design of that cluster assembly is in the category of 'rinky-dink'. There is one clear plastic lens panel and the anti-rattle strategy is to put some little pieces of soft plastic between that lens and the gauge housing behind it. If those pieces are missing or have dried up to the point that they no longer do their job, it's "rattle time".
Removing the cluster to properly fix your problem is a real PITA. So, you could temporarily wedge some soft vinyl/plastic in between the bezel and lens to quiet it down or come up with another way to take the 'slack' out of those assembled pieces.
Removing the cluster to properly fix your problem is a real PITA. So, you could temporarily wedge some soft vinyl/plastic in between the bezel and lens to quiet it down or come up with another way to take the 'slack' out of those assembled pieces.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
As far as automotive instruments/dash go the '78+ is easy to disassemble.
You'll see six screws at the top of the cluster. Three of them retain the lens only while the other three retain the lens and housing. Remove the three that retain the lens (the smaller ones I believe). Remove the lens.
cl
Check for rattle.
If the rattle is still there, the cluster itself requires a bit more work to remove: cluster fasteners (side & top), headlight override switch panel, A/C duct, electric connector behind center cluster, cable at speedo by pressing lever below and around the cable connection, two steering column bolts roughly above headlight override switch--the lowers the column slightly, cluster.
You'll see six screws at the top of the cluster. Three of them retain the lens only while the other three retain the lens and housing. Remove the three that retain the lens (the smaller ones I believe). Remove the lens.
cl
Check for rattle.
If the rattle is still there, the cluster itself requires a bit more work to remove: cluster fasteners (side & top), headlight override switch panel, A/C duct, electric connector behind center cluster, cable at speedo by pressing lever below and around the cable connection, two steering column bolts roughly above headlight override switch--the lowers the column slightly, cluster.
