Weird sound/rattle. I've used the search function

[ryankmasuda]

So after searching off and on for the past few months I'm posting this.

When I'm driving for a long distance and typically mostly freeway I hear a rattle. It sounds like its coming from the transmission tunnel but if I'm in the fast lane I can hear the sound bouncing off the center divide. At first it seemed like it was louder when my foot was off the gas pedal but now it seems to be all the time. And it only occurs after 20-30 minutes on the freeway. It sounds similar to some rocks in a coffee can rolling down the road. The rattle never speeds up or slows down. It has a consistent rattle sound.

I checked my wheel bearings after it started and they look to be in good shape. My front end is all new parts and everything is torqued to spec. my drive shafts feel normal and they don't seem to have any extra play. Any ideas of what this could be?

 

[Richard808]

I would try to bang around underneath after driving it long enough to where the noise is consistent. I wanna say I've had a heat shield near the catalytic converter rattling before. Also I've seen bad cats on bmws rattle. Try banging around underneath with a rubber mallet and see if anything makes a similar noise.

 

[KSWAY]

I had a rock stuck between the gas tank and skid plate, made similar sound that you described.

 

[SparkEE]

I would try to bang around underneath after driving it long enough to where the noise is consistent. I wanna say I've had a heat shield near the catalytic converter rattling before. Also I've seen bad cats on bmws rattle. Try banging around underneath with a rubber mallet and see if anything makes a similar noise.

Mufflers too. I've heard em both rattle at certain times and not others. The muffler I remember rattled when warmed up and the can had expanded which allowed the now detached baffles to rattle like crazy. From the location, look at the cat(s) as mentioned.

Rattles are the worst to chase down but its awesome when you find them. Good luck!

 

[ryankmasuda]

Thanks guys. I'll start banging away in the morning. If I can't find it I may attach my GoPro under there and move it around until the mic picks up the sound really well and hopefully it will narrow down the search.

 

[ryankmasuda]

I got under my 4runner and I can't find anything loose that would cause the sound. I did discover that my cv boot is blown out and there is more play in that cv compared to the other side. I hope it's not my transmission, I haven't had any issues with shifting.

 

[the great him]

hey man, do you still have that "vibration dampener" on the back of your tcase? its that big metal block thats just hanging off the back of it? i had a rattling sound for the longest time, and i thought it was my trailer hitch or a lost bolt or my roof rack -i thought it was a lot of things. i kept checking for it and then i noticed that it was lost and banging around back there, i pulled it and now the sound is gone and i have no ill affects from it

 

[ryankmasuda]

hey man, do you still have that "vibration dampener" on the back of your tcase? its that big metal block thats just hanging off the back of it? i had a rattling sound for the longest time, and i thought it was my trailer hitch or a lost bolt or my roof rack -i thought it was a lot of things. i kept checking for it and then i noticed that it was lost and banging around back there, i pulled it and now the sound is gone and i have no ill affects from it

I checked the dampener and there are two that are both intact. However one of the dampeners is deteriorating. When I moved it side to side I could see the rubber mount cracking pretty bad. I hope it turns out to be the fins in the muffler. I really need to get my new one welded on.