rear end rattle
 

is driving me nuts! (no pun intended)

I have been hearing this noise since I bought the truck, and I think that it is getting a little worse. Its hard to tell since I drive it every day and if it is getting worse it has been pretty gradual.

It only rattles when I hit a bump or a dip in the road. I dont think its a drivetrain issue because it doesnt matter if I am in gear or not, accelerating/decelerating etc.
I have finally narrowed it down to something on the rear of the truck (by driving over a speed bump).
My initial thought was the tailgate, but im not sure because if I go back and shake the hell out of the tailgate it doesnt make a sound.

The sound itself is kind of a cross between a clunk and a rattle. when I first got the truck I thought the bed was loose, but that is not the case. I have been under the truck many times and have even had the guys at the brake shop look for it but nothing is obviously loose. New shocks on the rear didnt make a difference either.

Any ideas? Anyone had an issue like this?

Re: rear end rattle
 

panhard bar bushings trailing arm bushings??? exhaust ??

Re: rear end rattle
 

My tailgate rattles a little, but the easiest way to find what it, is grab a beer, lay under the rear of your truck and take a minute to look at everything, shake stuff, bump stuff, rubber mallets help with this (Just be nice).

I was pulling my driveline yesterday and was just taking a minute to look everything over under the rear and found that when they did my exhaust they left the stock hanger bracket in the rubber mount and it was twisted in a way the when you bumped it it would rattle (Old Rubber).

Good luck.

Re: rear end rattle
 

Thanks for the replies!
I dont think its the exhaust. I had new mufflers put on after I bought the truck and while I wont say that the exhaust system is rattle free, I know it isnt loose enough to make a noise this loud :)

Will I be able to move the trailing arms enough to tell if the bushings are bad? Or is it something I'll be able to see? I wonder if I should jack up the frame so the rear end is hanging free and see if I can locate it that way

Re: rear end rattle
 

check the shock bushings and the swaybar bushings and mounts (if you have a swaybar). My dad used to have a ranger that would rattle like crazy on rough roads, turned out to be a missing sway bar bushing....never did fix it though.

Re: rear end rattle
 

i have seen them when the panhard bar bushing is wore out they make that noise.

Re: rear end rattle
 

My moneys on the panhard bar being noisy with the rest of the guys, this problem is as common as rusted rockers and cab corners.:haha::haha:

Re: rear end rattle
 

Do you have a receiver hitch on the truck? Several times I've had a cluncking/rattle & its been the hitch or pin.........Bob