Rattling noise

[Miki87]

Hi.
I have a 03 expedition eddie bauer 5.4 4wd. Lately it has developed a ratteling noise from front wheels thats comes and goes at various speeds. My 4wd high dose not work in 4wd but in 4auto and 4 low.

Has anyone ever had this problem before..

 

[BlackCoffee]

Are you sure it is from the wheel. If so, it could be the hub which contains the wheel bearing. You can replace it yourself, but it involves removing the knuckle from the ball joints. The hub also controls 4-were drive.

 

[Miki87]

Yes pretty sure. I've checked all heat shields, and the exhaust. The sound is not always present but comes and goes randomly. I'm not sure if it is on only one side or both but it sounds like both. Is there any way of diagnose if it is the vacuum hubs. It will also not switch in to 4H The dash light dos not go on when i turn on the switch. But 4H auto does work. Any ideas on that?

 

[BlackCoffee]

You can place a remote microphone on each side and see if you can isolate the sound when it occurs. I am not sure the rattle is connected with the 4H problem. A rattle sounds more like a mechanical problem, like a bearing going bad. Does the rattle occur when you are in park. Sometimes the bearings in the A/C clutch go bad and the failure causes an intermittent rattle on the PAX side. This happens because the clutch cycles while A/C is running.

 

[riphip]

Also check the bushings/linkage on the stabilizer bar

 

[Plati]

Rattles are tough. You should be able to diagnose that 4H thing though, although I can't help much with that. Another sound issue can be the vibration damper on the exhaust system. The adhesive fails and they hang down eventually (mine did, 2003). Rattles a bit. Looks like an oil filter. I just ripped mine off and mounted it on the wall in the garage with other parts that fell off the old gal.

 

[Machete]

I just posted about my rattle. I thought it was ac compressor.
Nope. Noooo. I couldn’t be simple.
It’s the catalytic converters. The insides are rattling so I orders new set of Walkers.

 

[BlackCoffee]

Same thing happened to me. I should have remembered the converters. If you have a lift, or are doing this under the car, I can give you a little bit of an edge on removal and installation. You will find it fun trying to get the pipes installed. Support the transmission, remove the transmission cross member, and then you will have nice access to the pipes/converter. This allows you to assemble the cross over pipes, without tightening the clamp and get them mounted to exhaust manifolds easier. After you hang the pipes and get everything aligned, you can replace the crossmember under the transmission.

 

[Machete]

No way in **** I’m getting underneath and doing that job lol!
But that’s a great idea about buying a new transmission crossmember.
Now that I think of it my gas tank crossmember or shield thing needs replacing too. It’s so rusted it looks like spaghetti.