Bean

Well, at least I assume it's a suspension related issue...

I've pretty much got this isolated to the rear. Over small to medium bumps in the road, or when coming off a speed bump I hear what sounds like a couple of pennies rattling around in a glass jar. When I crawl under and look I don't see any obvious lose linkages/bolts/etc. And I have not been able to recreate the noise in the garage by twisting, pulling, bouncing, you get the point. On the road, the noise is persistant.

Any ideas?

I'm NOT new to suspensions, but most of my knowledge is jeep related so I might not be looking for the right things.

1999 SR5 4Runner, 93k miles, bone stock.
Lift is coming in the fall but I want to make sure I get this resolved 1st (or isolated to something that the new suspension components will replace.

Thanks all!

CDUFF7

I used to get noises like that when rocks would get up on the gas tank skid plate...could that be it?

Bean

Certainly possible, especially since I can't find anything lose or broken but it just doesn't sound like a rock rattling around, but hey I've been wrong before

I hate the idea of dropping the gas tank. I've done it a few times on the jeep, no fun for me. I'll put that on my list of things to check.

Any other experiences / ideas??

Thanks

mokai

I am curious to this noise also as I have the same exact thing happening to my 03 Tacoma..I have looked and looked and found nothing..One thing I suspect is the spare tire mount might not be tight enough and rattling but im not sure..

CDUFF7

The rocks I was getting were actually reachable/removable. they ended up between the bottom of the gas tank and the factory skid plate bouncing around happily enjoying the ride.

the_gunslinger

i had a rattle that i thought was somewhere in the front suspension. it ended up being a loose skid plate. try hitting things with a hammer.

89-4run

I have a noise too in the rear... I finally took my fist and started hitting areas and found that the noise is coming from the frame. I can't see into the frame until I take off the rear bumper.

BajaRunner

Check your sway bar. I had annoying rattle that sounded like that, and it turned out to be the swaybar... Lube the contacts and bushings and tighten the bolts.

Wazioc

I have a similar issue on my 97 and I think I've narrowed mine down to the panhard bar. If I shake it as hard as I can, it will move a tiny bit and make a metal hitting metal sound. I'm thinking the bushings are going bad and letting it rattle around a little... but I'm still fairly new to the whole suspension thing.

Bean

Thanks for the ideas. I didn't get to play around with it tonight but you guys are describing the same things i was checking. I'm going to have to try a little harder, everything seemed solid. Guess I'm just used to everything being easier to get to on the jeep.

Wazioc

Well, I remembered this thread mentioning pennies in a glass jar... now I have a rattle coming from my front driver side area that sounds about like a penny in a jar, and I was hoping this thread got resolved... Anyone have any ideas?

SoCalPaul

If you pumped too much grease into the drive-shaft slip joint, it could keep the joint from compressing, but this would usually make a loud clunking noise in the drive line. Otherwise get a rubber mallet & start tapping things. If you start lubing rubber bushings, make sure your lube is rubber safe. Regular petroleum lubes could degrade the rubber bushings.

Check for loose nuts @ the top shock mounts, the metal washers can rattle.

Paul