Bad Rattle!!!

[Radman]

Guys, I'm going nuts over this problem.. I have a lowered 68 chev short box with dropped springs in the rear. as i am driving i can hear a rattle in the rear of the truck, It almost sounds like washers rattling on a bolt or like a chain dragging on the ground. I have checked every nut and bolt under that truck at least 10 times and cannot seem to find it!!! what the heck am i missing????? I have even pulled the drums off and checked for anything broken or pads that are rubbing and every thing looks great. any ideas????

[70LonghornCST]

Oh man! I feel for you bro. If it were me, I'd have someone get in the bed while I was under the truck (hopefully you can fit with it being lowered) and have them jump, wiggle, and bounce in as many ways as possible to hopefully simulate the same movement conditions that are making that jingle noise. Maybe being in worms eye (oxymoron/pun intendened) and earshot of the source you can hone in on the culprit. Good luck!

[Radman]

while truck is stationary i have bounced on the truck from the bumpers(both corners) and from inside the box and no luck!!! IT'S DRIVING ME NUTS not being able to find it. Shoud the box mounting have rubber between the frame and the crossmembers?? I have rubber in between.

[Frizzle Fry]

Chalk the front, put the rear on jackstands and run it. See if you hear it with the rear wheels rotating. I feel your pain man.

[ca180]

I had to hunt down a rattle on an 07 ram. Sounded like it was in the rear, ended up that the transmission crossmember was loose. That was dead center of the truck, but the noise was transferred to the rear. So make sure and check everything towards the front

[mnky30]

is your drive line close to your exhaust? it might be rubbing while driving. it also might be some thing in side the drive line maybe and also check your trany lines if it is a auto amd see if they might be viberation on metal or together.

[WELD4DAYS]

Maybe check the carrier bearing on the drive shaft if you have one.

[panhandler62]

That's what I'm thinking...

The rear pinion angle is comepletely different now (unless you panaked the front cross member or used an aftermarket peice the front shaft angle is pretty much fixed regardless of ride height) that your truck is lowered.. the rear shaft might be rattling in the bearing or at the third member a bit.

[Radman]

As you have all noticed when you drop the rear suspension the tires acually move closer to the frount of the wheel well. i didn't like this look so I made my own control arms out of 1 1/2 x 4" rec tubing. i made them 1" longer and i corrected the pinion angle as well. Custom one piece drive shaft as well. My track arm also goes from the frame on the dr side to the control arm on the pass side. At ride height it is level. I used the stock control arm bushings and pressed them in. I also tack welded the lip to make sure it didn't move. The noise has been there since i finished the truck and i now have just over 9000 mile on it. it is getting worse!!! I again put it up in the air and checked every nut and bolt. It didn't make one difference!!!!!!!!!!. I even took the tailgate off thinkin mabee it was the problem. no change. It's driving me nuts guys. I built this beast from the frame up and it sounds like a bucket of bolts loose in a can driving down the street!!!! What in he** did i miss?????

[Swifty]

i'm a noob so don't shoot me if this is way off... BUT i have a 350z and they have the same rattle/dragging sound your explaining. the dealer told me that some bolts in my axel need to be greased. I know its far fetched but could possibly be the same thing.

[thelonerife]

anything in the cross sills in your bed, or stake pockets?

[Anthony Fremont]

Originally Posted by thelonerife

anything in the cross sills in your bed, or stake pockets?

I agree, there could also be something in the exhaust bouncing around. If the OP has drum brakes maybe something in the drum.

[exmonkeypunk]

chains dragging??? same thing i'm experiencing with my 72' long bed. It's the shield on the carrier bearing in the middle of the 2 piece drive shaft. Mine's just sitting on there spinning and sounding like dragging chains while i drive. I'm replacing mine this week.