Strange Noise Coming From The Rear

[Gotrek]

Our pathy is making a noise in the rear.

 

It's a clunking sound, hollow sounding, and while sitting back there to the best of my knowledge is coming from the upper quarter panel. It almost osunds like it's coming from up higher then the speaker pod. I realise it could just be the echo resonating and making it sound like it's coming from up there.

 

The noise happens when driving on perfectly flat roads, bumps, braking and accelerating. It's random some days we don't hear it at all other days it is constant. Imagine putting an axe handle in your quarter panel an it's hitting side to side. That's the best I can describe the noise.

 

 

My first guess was a loose, rusted out shock tower. although I didn't check the shock yet I'm unable to move it at all it's not loose. My next guess was the spare tire carrier. in the open position I can reproduce a similar noise but much quieter. And in closed position No noise at all. all the brackets are tight.

 

I've checked for loose objects in the back

 

I've lifted the truck and articulated the suspension no change. We did have another noise (wobbling noise) which was caused by the bad sway bar endlinks but I've replaced those and that has gone away. Everything else on the suspension seems ok.

 

The top of the frame rails are rusted a bit but the body mounts on the passenger side are all still good.

 

any other ideas?

[Slick]

muffler rattling hitting something?

[88pathoffroad]

Someone stuck something into the little cargo area panels in the rear? Pull panels and have a look.

[Gotrek]

Someone stuck something into the little cargo area panels in the rear? Pull panels and have a look.

 

 

That was my first guess but I looked and shoved my hand as far as it could go nothing there.

 

As for the muffler there is a broken hanger on the driver side but I've secured the muffler with strapping it doesn't move now.

 

The noise is coming from the passenger side.

[GrimGreg]

My best guess (because I have had both of these noises) is; either your gas tank filler tube braket has a loose bolt and the bracket is making noise against the bolt threads(kind of a ratcheting/ clinking sound). Or you have a bad bushing in your rear sway bar (usually a clunking or pop sound).

[unccpathfinder]

if its on the drivers side and you have a 3rd tail light or wiper it could be the harness/plumbing for the washer fluid

[Gotrek]

Thanks guys I'll research those options.

 

We can rule out sway bar links. I did have that problem (the springy boing noise) but I replaced the links last month or so,. That's when the other noise became more obvious

 

Noise is definately on the passenger side though but echo can do wierd things.

Edited May 24, 2007 by Gotrek

[Alkorahil]

I was under my truck earlier today poking around and noticed that the cover over the fuel intake from the gas cap to the gas tank had two screw on it, the bottom one was lose and when I thumped it a few times, it vibrated a little made noise. I tightened it up and no problem.

Maybe your is worse?