Rattling Noise from back.

[olcoacher]

I have a 1998 XLT 4x4. When I hit bumps on the road there is an annoying rattling noise. Like something is loose. I can't find it. Anyone had the same problem - and found it? I haven't removed the spare tire, but it appears to be tight. If the bushings were going, would that cause it?

 

[walnuts4x4]

hard to say but check out your exhaust hangers make sure that it is tight

 

[ELVATO]

Rock the truck back and forth and see if you can hear it. On my roommate's Mustang, the rear end clunked more than rattled when his bushings were gone.

 

[Thermo]

olcoacher, try this. Crawl under the truck and using your arms and/or legs, move the truck up and down as you watch the lower shock mounts (specifically the rubber grommet where the shock meets the hanger on the axle). Do you see the shock moving in relation to the hanger? I bet you will see the movement there. If so, you can try tightening the bolts to "spot torque" (ie, tighten the bolt till you see spots). But, if that doesn't help, then you will probably need to get 4 fender washers and undo the bottom bolt on each of the shocks and slide a fender washer in on each side between the shock and the hanger and then tighten it back down. THe problem is that somehow all the manufacturers for shocks have made the metal tube for inside the rubber mount about 1/8" too short. THis results in the hanger not being able to tighten down sufficiently to grab on to the metal tube. THis results in the metal tube becoming oblonged over time.

I am placing money that you changed out your rear shocks about 5-10K miles ago.

 

[DR3W]

I have something like this but im 99.84725014611 percent sure its the my rear windsheild wiper hitting the window.