Help me identify a LOUD rattle (with video)

[A.Wilson013]

For the past couple weeks my 4Runner has had this nasty rattle. It's LOUD. The video does not do it justice.

Only happens when I am going slow- usually when rolling to a stop with no throttle like I am here, or when accelerating from a stop with part throttle. OCCASIONALLY it will do it if I am in gear while stopped in traffic. I've never heard it while going over 20mph.

In this video I have removed all of my skid plates and placed wooden shims between my exhaust and the frame crossmembers anywhere they could possibly hit.

After this video I removed everything off of my tire carrier (everything) and nothing changed.

I've made sure all heat shields on the exhaust are clear of anything, and all bolts are tightened.

I'm at a loss here. To me it sounds like it's coming from right underneath of me, but I have checked, double, and triple checked all of the bolts on the sway bar, steering rack, brakes, etc.



While doing my trouble shooting I was able to find a few other rattles, but none of them were this one. I've hit everything with a rubber mallet and cannot replicate the sound. I think my next step is to try and kill myself by putting the rear axle on jack stands and putting it in drive.

 

[mtbtim]

Sort of sounded like it was a rotational noise like something related to the drivetrain, but I would think the noise would be consistent. It had a tinny sound quality that would come from a lightweight metal like the metal for the front brake dust shields.

 

[GSPRunner]

Let me know if you decide to part it out

 

[A.Wilson013]

Sort of sounded like it was a rotational noise like something related to the drivetrain, but I would think the noise would be consistent. It had a tinny sound quality that would come from a lightweight metal like the metal for the front brake dust shields.

I am also convinced that this is what it is, but I cannot figure out how I would isolate this and/or fix it if that were the issue.

Maybe I'll just cut the damn things off?

 

[sogoood]

muffler bearings. i usually change mine out every 30k.

 

[A.Wilson013]

muffler bearings. i usually change mine out every 30k.

I paid the dealer $1250 to replace my muffler a few months ago... I IMAGINE they replaced the bearings too...















...:fish2:

 

[99Runnr]

Sound's like something dangles, and hit's something rotating. Dust shield sound does seem correct, except it would make contact and bend out of the way. Have you looked at your brake pads/pins on the 231 calipers? I recall you upgraded those not long ago.

Anything flop around and hitting a driveshaft?

One of them is beneath you if you hear the sound in that area.

 

[Andy in Pa]

It doesn't sound real rhythmic like a rotational drivetrain thing. Maybe the baffles inside the muffler (or maybe the catalyst inside the cat converter) are loose? I had that happen on a few cars in the past. Jeep even had a recall on "loose catalysts" back in the mid-late 90's. Drives you crazy chasing rattles around....:frusty:

 

[jgue467]

dynamic dampner?

Maybe the dynamic dampner on the transfer case, 2 bolts s/b at 28ft-lbs...worth a quick check. Luck! :cowboy:

 

[Bijan]

Transmission or driveshaft is what it sounds like to me

 

[s20004runner]

Nice t4r

I have absolutely no idea.

 

[A.Wilson013]

Sound's like something dangles, and hit's something rotating. Dust shield sound does seem correct, except it would make contact and bend out of the way. Have you looked at your brake pads/pins on the 231 calipers? I recall you upgraded those not long ago.

Anything flop around and hitting a driveshaft?

One of them is beneath you if you hear the sound in that area.

I've looked at the pads and pins, and smacked everything around there with a rubber mallet. Everything looks/sounds like it should.

There's nothing hanging or flopping around anywhere- I spent a few hours under it yesterday looking and saw nothing out of the ordinary.

It doesn't sound real rhythmic like a rotational drivetrain thing. Maybe the baffles inside the muffler (or maybe the catalyst inside the cat converter) are loose? I had that happen on a few cars in the past. Jeep even had a recall on "loose catalysts" back in the mid-late 90's. Drives you crazy chasing rattles around....:frusty:

The muffler makes absolutely no noise when I smack it, so I ruled that out. The cat makes a slight rattle if I hit it real hard, but when I stuffed the shims between it and the crossmember the sound/tone did not change at all, so I ruled that out. Before the shims I was positive this was the issue, but I don't really think it is anymore.

Maybe the dynamic dampner on the transfer case, 2 bolts s/b at 28ft-lbs...worth a quick check. Luck! :cowboy:

I smacked that thing a few times yesterday, but it makes no noise. I just went out to check the torque and both were good.

Transmission or driveshaft is what it sounds like to me

What could cause a transmission or driveshaft to make this noise? It'll do it in any gear (or out of gear) - as long as I'm either rolling to stop, or accelerating from a stop (obviously while out in gear =p).

Nice t4r

I have absolutely no idea.

Haha thanks man...

 

[GSPRunner]

It's your cat. You're welcome Malik.

 

[Morphyne]

For the past couple weeks my 4Runner has had this nasty rattle. It's LOUD. The video does not do it justice.

Only happens when I am going slow- usually when rolling to a stop with no throttle like I am here, or when accelerating from a stop with part throttle. OCCASIONALLY it will do it if I am in gear while stopped in traffic. I've never heard it while going over 20 mph.

.

I had this exact issue. It ended up being a cat heat sheild ring clamp that rusted through and was hanging. Easy to miss.

 

[Arrowhead]

I'm sure you've checked your flexplate? Mine rattles and I've bought a 99 with a broken flexplate. Mine sounds like something is loose like a broken bolt head or something in with the flexplate. It's on my 02 limited 4x4.

Sent from my SM-G920R4 using Tapatalk

 

[A.Wilson013]

Fairly sure I found it...

Replaced the cat, and removed the dust shields on the front brakes. No change, other than my exhaust being 20x louder now. I hate it.

I got back under there and started hitting things again and found this...



If I smack the progressive coils of my OME 861s they make this noise. The EXACT noise I hear. However, as you can see I still have my factory cone bump stops in there... so what gives?

 

[A.Wilson013]

If anyone's curious, it was indeed the OME 861s rattling. The progressive coils were hitting eachother at certain frequencies and causing the god awful noise.

The fix...

I read on some Jeep forums that people were having the same issue and kept seeing this White Line coil wrap crap being whored around. It looked oddly similar to cable spiral wrap, so I headed to Fry's down the road and bought some for $5.99.

I lifted the rear of my 4Runner with my Hi-Lift to let the coils extend, and I wrapped that stuff around the "progressive" coils at the top.

Just like that, it's gone.

Between all the other rattles I found while searching for this one, my 4Runner is quieter than it has ever been, I think. Well, other than the exhaust. I am really displeased with how loud it is with the high flow cat.

 

[Unner]

[MENTION=63487]A.Wilson013[/MENTION]

Thanks for following up on this thread. I had the same problem, and never thought to use that spiral wrap. I used 3/8" from Advance Auto. The coils are silent now, and it's SOOO much more pleasant to drive. Mine made the noise right at 40mph, which is the speed limit on every road around here...