I've been chasing this rattle for weeks, but in the past few days it sounds like it's getting slightly worse. It sounds like a few bolts in a tin can getting shaken around; it has a distinct, high pitch, tinny sound. Only happens when the truck's in motion, and usually only under acceleration. I had someone ride in the bed to try and pinpoint it, all he could tell me is it was coming from underneath.
I've been crawling around underneath hitting stuff with a mallet trying to find the jingle, but no luck. Almost definitely not the exhaust, I've checked it closely. All I can think is a rock got into one of the brake drums somehow (I don't wheel), but I can't make either jingle with the mallet. Would a bad u-joint would make that noise (neither has play)? Has anyone had an experience like this, the jingle-jangle is driving me insane! I hate gremlins.

 

I've always found that sounds are almost never where you THINK they're coming from. It's easy for sound to travel and reflect when the sheet metal of a truck is involved. If you're confident that it's coming from underneath, i'd check out the differential. Make sure there's fluid in there!

 

Good Lord, how big is that bolt on the diff? I have a 22mm socket, and that's too small.

 

tailgate limiters?

 

Should be 24mm.

 

Chain from spare tire hanger? The "metal rattling in a can" sound usually means engine detonation...

 

I had a sound like that on an old truck years ago and it turned out to be the rear u-joints.

Would have never expected it to make that kinda noise but I took it to a friends shop and sure enough he replaced the u-joints and the noise went away.

 

its a toyota, turn the radio up and keep goin.........

 

Thanks for everyone's help!

Outsane: Do the tailgate limiters really make that much noise? I noticed they were loose, but I thought "no way...". That'd certainly simplify things.

BMcEL: Thanks! I'll look into the diff.

Bad Karma: Spare tire chains are already secured with zip ties. I certainly hope it's not the engine, but I doubt it. Only happens when the truck's moving, and it's distinctly from the back.

85Turbo: U-joints huh? I was kinda thinking along those lines, but I couldn't imagine them making a noise like that. Much cheaper than an engine or diff, if that's the case! Thanks for the tip!

Maybe I'm asking too much, but can anyone verify that bad u-joints make that noise? I hate throwing money and time at a problem unless I'm fairly sure they'll make a difference.

 

I can't be for sure thats your problem but mine were rattling. Never would have thought it like I said.

Every other bad u-joint experience I've had was vibration at around 55mph but no odd noise.

 

I remember my tailgate made an awful lot of noise until I replaced the plastic clips or "silencers", I think they're called.

 

Bad Karma's got it right. I totally forgot about that, they've been put on the backburner since my engine is on a stand right now :p. The tailgate hinges make a ton of noise unless you have those plastic clips in place. I put plastic zip ties on both halves of each hinge, and they're quiet now too.

 

when you find a source for set of silencers.. let me know I need a set...

so I can hear the rest of the noises my rig makes...

 

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...runner-247176/

Good info about the silencers here. Both mine are broken. Gunna have to have someone listen to see if that's in fact where the noise comes from, but seems likely. If so, I WILL find a way to quiet it down, even if I have to convert it to the Taco rubber-coated cables. I simply cannot live with this noise!

 

I was gunna say the same thing. I've got the same problem. It drives me nuts. It does it worse in reverse.

I gunna go hack the chains off completely...

 

Outsane - You can get those plastic clips at the dealership, they're a couple bucks each. There are 4 of them, if i remember correctly, 2 for each hinge.

 

The plot thickens. The rattle just stopped. Completely. I did nothing. The noise never effected driving, but suffice it to say the truck still drives fine. I'm nervous, because anything that can disappear that suddenly can reappear just as suddenly, right? Thoughts?

 

My truck 'fixes' little things by itself all the time lol. I wouldn't worry about it.