Undercarriage rattle = heat shield?

JosephD05

JosephD05

New member
I have a metal on metal rattle in my front under carriage when I go over bumps. Heat shield...that's what the dealer just told me. They are ordering one. I don't see how this can the noise when the noise is not present if I press on the brake peddle.
 
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Sorry to bump this topic back, but im irritated at a rattle i have on my 03 4runner.

I recently had a 4wheel allignment done, but i dont see how that could be a factor.

I went underneath to check the tightness of the bolts on the skidplates and they are not loose, and the plates dont move when i tug on them.

Anyone have any history on this?

Thanks in advance.
 
I have a slight metal-on-metal rattle I hear with when driving over sunken manhole covers or similar. It's been there since new and nothing's loose underneath. I've narrowed it to the front engine undercover and air diverter flap thing. Everything's tight it's just that the undercover assembly resonates (it's all thin and flimsy). I only hear it on quiet side streets with the windows open. I performed the lazy-man fix which is tuning it out.
 
Sorry to bump this thread, but I have the same rattle. It usually occurs for me when I hit a bunch of small bumps going down a hill. It sounds to me like it is coming from the rear left of my truck.
 
Border411 said:
Sorry to bump this thread, but I have the same rattle. It usually occurs for me when I hit a bunch of small bumps going down a hill. It sounds to me like it is coming from the rear left of my truck.
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I have the exact same noise on my 2004. Any ideas as to what it might be?
 
I had the same type of noise shortly after I bought my 06 last year. It seemed to happen at random times and it was very difficult to pinpoint, as many rattles are. I was convinced it was coming form the sunroof at one point. Then I thought it only happened when I made left turns. It was frustrating as hell. The sound was awful and it had me convinced I was in for a big $$ repair.

It turns out it was a heat shield. If you're not familiar, they are like aluminum baking dishes you might make a turkey in attached at various points on the undercarriage. The one that was making the noise had come completely off and was sitting on top of the muffler so I couldn't see it when I looked under the truck.

I seem to remember it had been attached with 2 bolts and the holes had worn so they were too big for the bolts. It is very possible one bolt could come loose and create a rattle.
 
Axis said:
I had the same type of noise shortly after I bought my 06 last year. It seemed to happen at random times and it was very difficult to pinpoint, as many rattles are. I was convinced it was coming form the sunroof at one point. Then I thought it only happened when I made left turns. It was frustrating as hell. The sound was awful and it had me convinced I was in for a big $$ repair.

It turns out it was a heat shield. If you're not familiar, they are like aluminum baking dishes you might make a turkey in attached at various points on the undercarriage. The one that was making the noise had come completely off and was sitting on top of the muffler so I couldn't see it when I looked under the truck.

I seem to remember it had been attached with 2 bolts and the holes had worn so they were too big for the bolts. It is very possible one bolt could come loose and create a rattle.
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:iagree: What he said.

I get the rattle whenever shutting the passenger side doors, thankfully it hasn't popped up while driving....yet.
 
My heat shield just rusted through around all four bolts that held it on. The rattle was intermittent. My mechanic used washers to put it back on.
 
Same here. I had an intermitent rattle at a specific RMP. It was the heat shield. On mine only 1 or 2 bolt holes had enlarged & it was still in place but would rattle. I added a couplemof washers to the nuts holding the heat shield on & problem solved. Crawl under & examine all the fasteners for the heat shields. It will be obvios if the the shield is loose or the holes are too big for the fasteners. Also, doule check the tightness of the roof rack crossbars. I had a loose one and it would rattle & I realy thought the noise was coming from somewhere on the side of the truck, not the roof. Good hunting.
 
I removed by front sway bar and my under carriage rattle went away. Cant explain why, but the rattle is gone. Not to mention it handles soooooooooooo much better. Acts more like an independent front suspension now. The only regrets I have is not doing it a long time ago. :beer:
 
M1911 said:
My heat shield just rusted through around all four bolts that held it on. The rattle was intermittent. My mechanic used washers to put it back on.
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Same here for the muffler heat shield several years ago. Posted it somewhere on here I think. I used some larger fender washers and nylock nuts to put it back in place.
 
I had my heat shield came off my 05 and was wedged in near the muffler so it only rattled under certain conditions. Take a look. Just took mine off. Muffler shop said it was not a big deal.


wbwatson79 said:
:iagree: What he said.

I get the rattle whenever shutting the passenger side doors, thankfully it hasn't popped up while driving....yet.
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The heat shield over my muffler rotted and fell off too, causing a rattle. Steel bolts and aluminium shield do not mix.

I used bailing wire to hold it up for now, as my tools are 300 miles away.
 
I had a similar issue. When I was getting my tires remounted at the shop, somehow 1 of the heat shields came loose and when I was driving off I noticed a strange new noise. Brought it right back into the bay and the mechanic found the problem in 1 minute. Then he just removed it. Should I be worried about whether it needs to be replaced?
 
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