Under carriage 'squeak/rattle'

[maxse01]

When I bought my truck I had a slight 'squeak/rattle' coming from underneath when I hit bumps. It was pretty quiet, but has since gotten louder. I lifted the truck and figured that there would be a bunch of things taken apart and put back together and that might fix it. Nope. It is NOT the spare tire, I have checked that many times and even removed it. Anyone have any ideas where to look?

Running boards are off, sliders on, as stated, spare is ok and not the culprit. Definitely coming from under the truck and it's driving me crazy. In the mornings when cold it seems to be quieter, and it gets louder as it warms up. My mechanic has looked at it and cannot find it. Could it be the trailer hitch? I cannot replicate it by kicking things underneath when it's parked, it only happens when moving on the road and hitting bumps.

I know this is one of those things that's very tough to diagnose, any input would be appreciated. Thanks guys.

 

[DustyTrail]

It could be the heat shields on the catalytic converter. Tighten a big hose clamp down on them and see it that quiets it down. It worked on mine.

 

[aging fleet]

Mine does something very similar so I can empathize. My sqeek/rattle comes from the rear while going over bumps. I suspect the movable parts/assemblies associated with the parking brake, but haven't been able to confirm that.

Good luck and let us know if you track it down.

 

[JeffH]

Had same issue and my mechanic found that the small springs that retain the emergency brake were loose and thus not holding the shoes tightly in place against the backing plate. At first he shimmed them with washers then put new springs in later and that seems to have taken care of it.

 

[DarkPharf]

I am chasing these down too. I seem to have a few back there. I fixed some by replacing the 4 stabilizers on the back axle and rebushed the sway bar. But still something squeekin on the bumps. I suspect it is the springs themselves rubbing in their cradles or some parking brake parts jiggleing on the big movements.

 

[GregLCA]

When I bought my truck I had a slight 'squeak/rattle' coming from underneath when I hit bumps. It was pretty quiet, but has since gotten louder. I lifted the truck and figured that there would be a bunch of things taken apart and put back together and that might fix it. Nope. It is NOT the spare tire, I have checked that many times and even removed it. Anyone have any ideas where to look?

Running boards are off, sliders on, as stated, spare is ok and not the culprit. Definitely coming from under the truck and it's driving me crazy. In the mornings when cold it seems to be quieter, and it gets louder as it warms up. My mechanic has looked at it and cannot find it. Could it be the trailer hitch? I cannot replicate it by kicking things underneath when it's parked, it only happens when moving on the road and hitting bumps.

I know this is one of those things that's very tough to diagnose, any input would be appreciated. Thanks guys.

I had a similar squeak/rattle over bumps and the mechanic traced it to the clamp and o-ring seal just behind the resonator canister. The o-ring had disintegrated and the exhaust pipe was actually moving slightly in and out of the resonator over bumps causing the squeak.

If you look carefully with a flashlight you might be able to see signs of fresh metal where the parts are abrading each other near that clamp.


-G

 

[maxse01]

Lots of stuff to check out, thanks guys! I'm going to crawl around under there tomorrow morning and poke those items and see what I find.

 

[H E A V Y M E T A L]

try graPHite powder, it is used to lube lock tumblers, dry- not to messy. squeese some on one location at a time. ONE location at a time. until you isolate the sqeak. there are places you cant use this, but still worth a try. it is how I found a broken leaf spring on my old tacoma.

 

[Bear Lake Cruiser]

Same thing for me it was bad upper shock bushings washer and nuts. Put all new in parts fom beno. Quiet now

 

[Hayes]

I too had a squeaky top bushing on a rear shock. Just got in there and tightened it and it went quiet.

 

[Bear Lake Cruiser]

There are 4 washers. 2 the same and then the other 2 are different making 3 different washers. And they mount up in a particular order. Mine had after market crap. All wrong. Get the right parts for the right job