Rear end rattle...what to check?

[HawkeyeScott]

2007 Pacifica 4.0 Touring FWD has what can best be described as a bit of a rattle when going over a bump. Road cracks, manhole covers, etc. will produce the sound, but speed bumps and elevation change from street to driveway (over the rounded off curb) make it most noticeable. Seems to be coming from rear passenger side. One or two rattles and then it's back to quiet once back on level ground. Best guess is one of the self-leveling shocks has worn out, but I'm hoping for something else since those are $250 apiece. Bushings? Something else?

 

[dishdude]

Sounds like a broken sway bar end link. Did you crawl under it yet?

 

[HawkeyeScott]

Not yet. Would that affect tire wear? (Everything wearing normally.) Also, this seems to have come on gradually over the last year or so.

 

[dishdude]

No, it wouldn't impact tire wear.

 

[DoubleWasp]

Probably is the shocks, but you really need to get under there and try to wiggle some stuff around.

Shocks, sway bar links, busted spring pockets, and loose brake splash shields would be my main suspects.

 

[The_Jeff]

+3 on the end links

 

[Merkava_4]

Do you have a blower motor back there ? Does it still rattle with the A/C completely turned off ?

 

[HawkeyeScott]

Yep, rattles with or without climate control on.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Does it still rattle if you ride the brakes over a bump? If so, that would rule out any brake pieces (like pads rattling in the caliper brackets). If the rattle goes away, however, then you may need to service the rear pads.

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
+3 on the end links


I'm down for a +4.

When they went in my car, it sounded like a bowling ball rolling around in the trunk.