Hard to find rattle

asymptonic · Oct 7, 2020

I have a metallic rattle coming from somewhere near the driver side wheel or nearby that only occurs on quick sharp bumps. Driving a dirt road that's in bad shape really brings it out but a speed bump won't.

Here's the interesting part: If I apply the brakes, even the slightest bit, it stops. I've been under there with a rubber mallet and can't find anything. What else should I be checking?

Unclewolverine · Oct 7, 2020

Front or rear?

IslanderOffRoad · Oct 7, 2020

Dust shield for the brakes maybe?

Vince · Oct 7, 2020

Are your caliper slides excessively worn?

Jackem · Oct 7, 2020

Transfer case linkage

asymptonic · Oct 7, 2020

Unclewolverine said:
Front or rear?

Front as far as I can tell. I'll remove the front wheel and start poking around. How can I check the transfer case linkage?

Vince · Oct 7, 2020

Check your upper and lower shock bushings. If the bushing has failed you will get metal to metal contact.

asymptonic · Oct 7, 2020

Vince said:
Check your upper and lower shock bushings. If the bushing has failed you will get metal to metal contact.

Brand new shocks, so that's not it, thanks though.

Griffin · Oct 7, 2020

Did this start before or after installing the new shocks?

Vince · Oct 7, 2020

Did your brand new shocks have OEM style studs on the top mount? If so, did you use the large diameter Jeep original rubber bushings and cup washers or the often smaller after-market replacement bushings?

I have had small shock bushings work their way through the hole in the inner fender before. This was within a few weeks of fitting new replacements. It made a noise but not really a rattle sound, more of a metallic clink every time the shock moved up and down.

Unclewolverine · Oct 7, 2020

Could be the pads or the caliper. I had a caliper bolt come out once.

asymptonic · Oct 7, 2020

Vince said:
Did your brand new shocks have OEM style studs on the top mount? If so, did you use the large diameter Jeep original rubber bushings and cup washers or the often smaller after-market replacement bushings?

I have had small shock bushings work their way through the hole in the inner fender before. This was within a few weeks of fitting new replacements. It made a noise but not really a rattle sound, more of a metallic clink every time the shock moved up and down.

Bilstein 4600s, with big honking bushings and cup washers. I also directly inspected them, they're fine.

asymptonic · Oct 7, 2020

Griffin said:
Did this start before or after installing the new shocks?

Hard to say, I believe after but not immediately after. I also had some brake work done and I do feel it was closer to that.

Hard to find rattle

asymptonic

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Unclewolverine

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IslanderOffRoad

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asymptonic

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