Driveshaft tunnel rattle?

[MichBadger]

I have a 2014 SR5 with 124,000 miles. In the last 300 miles or so, I've noticed a rattle sound that appears to be coming from the center counsel area. I figured it was loose change and didn't think much of it. We are leaving tonight on a road trip and I figured I'd get rid of the rattle before we left.

After emptying the bins and then disassembling the center counsel completely, it appears the noise is coming from underneath the vehicle and being transmitted up through the center area. The sound is definitely rotational and increases with speed, starting at about 25-30 mph.

I crawled underneath and don't see/feel anything loose.

Any ideas on what might be going on here?

 

[214RUNNER]

Check Ujoints on drive shafts, exhaust hangers, heat shields & sway bar end links.

 

[kenwilliams0803]

I'd bet money on a heat shield. I've lost 2 big ones already. Both of which told me it was time to rip them out by rubbing on my rear driveshaft.

2 separate instances, and was lucky to be able to rip them out by hand in a parking lot each time. Watch them though. They are very sharp. Like need stitches sharp. I was fine but wished I had gloves in the car each time.

 

[<<<<]

Dude?! You got to become friends with tools. J.K.

 

[BlackPhillip]

I had the exact same thing. It was a heat shield making contact with the Drive shaft when it was turning. Bent it back by hand.

Crawl under the truck and turn the drive shaft by hand to see if you can identify the culprit.