Strange rattle / vibration noise

[Newlife]

Looking for suggestions on this one. (Also first issue out of the gladiator)

Backstory is we went off scouting some trails on the 17-18th of February. On trail everything seemed fine. Drove home no issues. A few days later I started noticing this grinding/vibration noise similar to an exhaust heat shield rattling but only while slowing down to a stop. Crawl under the jeep start checking around the exhaust and can’t find anything. The next day it is slightly louder but still the same. Goes away as soon as you slow a little more or speed up. So I started checking loose bolts. This has continued for days now and still can’t track it down. I did make an appt with the dealership but it is not until next Friday 3/10/2023.

Things I’ve tried:

Remove engine/trans skid put stock skid back on.
Remove spare tire
Remove spare tire heat shield
Spray exhaust hanger locations with lithium grease
Shook entire rack
Removed all items from interior of the jeep
Taken off tires and inspected for debri in brake covers
Taken a rubber mallet to every suspension component.
Check for play in either drive shaft
Remove everything in bed including drawer, and fridge.
Taken to 3 exhaust shops and nothing has been found to be loose or broken.

Mods on jeep that should be mentioned
Clayton 3.5 overland plus
37x13.5x17 cooper stt pro
M.o.r.e skid plate engine/trans only
Aev driveshaft carrier bearing drop all three pieces.
Bilstein 5100 shocks a four corners
5:13 Yukon gearing with aev diff covers

I am going to attempt to attach a go pro under the truck facing back to see if I can pinpoint the area the noise is coming from. The sound appears (head out the window) be coming from somewhere in the rear.

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[ShrimpHappens]

Look for rocks wedged in weird places. Someone on here had some interference at the transfer case (and wasn't able to shift into 4 low) due to a rock. Someone else was getting a weird noise due a rock being wedged in either a brake caliper or the dust/heat shield behind the rotor.

 

[Newlife]

I don’t know if this video will work but while I was setting up my camera and looking for a place to mount it I came across this. Seems both of my springs are making a horrible metal on metal sound. I don’t know if this is it but it’s the only thing I can find rattling or loose. I did run my hand over as much if Frame I could find. Checked all suspension bolts for tightens including sway bar end links on the rear and even took my license plate off since I have an aftermarket steel bumper.

 

[Newlife]

The driver spring definitely sounds a lot worse

 

[Lunentucker]

Check the parking brake cables too.

 

[Newlife]

Check the parking brake cables too.

Checked those. Mine have a foam/rubber sleeve over them no noise from there.

 

[Lunentucker]

Checked those. Mine have a foam/rubber sleeve over them no noise from there.

Mine rattled like hell in the hangers near where they exit the cab.

 

[chorky]

Look for rocks wedged in weird places. Someone on here had some interference at the transfer case (and wasn't able to shift into 4 low) due to a rock. Someone else was getting a weird noise due a rock being wedged in either a brake caliper or the dust/heat shield behind the rotor.

I second this! RIGHT HERE. No joke, when I was in another state for surgery, and on a day trip found I couldn't get into 4wd. I was so angry. Only to find out a few days later after crawling under it that there was this....

I will forever be confused how this happened. It was also making a interesting noise that I just tried to ignore.

The driver spring definitely sounds a lot worse

Yeah maybe....but I highly doubt that is the source of your noise. that would show itself over bumps/dips, not while slowing

 

[Newlife]

I second this! RIGHT HERE. No joke, when I was in another state for surgery, and on a day trip found I couldn't get into 4wd. I was so angry. Only to find out a few days later after crawling under it that there was this....

I will forever be confused how this happened. It was also making a interesting noise that I just tried to ignore.




Yeah maybe....but I highly doubt that is the source of your noise. that would show itself over bumps/dips, not while slowing

If the spring came unseated couldn’t it cause the noise slowing down if the axle is shifting? I’m reaching here but on my Tacoma on take off and slow down the rear axle could rotate slightly up/down depending on the load on the engine.

 

[chorky]

If the spring came unseated couldn’t it cause the noise slowing down if the axle is shifting? I’m reaching here but on my Tacoma on take off and slow down the rear axle could rotate slightly up/down depending on the load on the engine.

I suppose possible but very doubtful. A spring noise usually, in my experience, will make more of a creaking sound or a really solid frame sound since its connected to the frame. And in that video your hitting that spring pretty hard. Its not going to get that kind of action with a slowing down type of speed transfer unless your also hitting bumps. Maybe if the spring was unloaded and had room to move around but then that wouldn't equate to slowing down as slowing down puts force onto the front springs.

a couple thoughts come to my mind

• You have a pretty tall clayton lift with unknown added vehicle weight - it could be damage occuring to the front drive shaft joint. That joint is known to not be happy past 2.5” And its more a matter of time than if it fails.
• How worn are your front brakes? Have you been through mud or silt?
• who installed the lift? Were the control arms torqued to spec and with the vehicle load on the suspension before torquing?

internet video is a hard judging place for sound but if you did have a gopro that could help figure it out. Or you could have someone record in a parking lot as you drove by. Are you able to be certain if it is coming from the front or back?


it also helps to remove everything extra not bolted or secured from the vehicle. I had a clunk i thought was a driveline issue once and turned out to be a jack stand in the bed that Even though tied down was moving just enough to make a clunk on certain low speed dips

 

[Newlife]

I suppose possible but very doubtful. A spring noise usually, in my experience, will make more of a creaking sound or a really solid frame sound since its connected to the frame. And in that video your hitting that spring pretty hard. Its not going to get that kind of action with a slowing down type of speed transfer unless your also hitting bumps. Maybe if the spring was unloaded and had room to move around but then that wouldn't equate to slowing down as slowing down puts force onto the front springs.

a couple thoughts come to my mind

• You have a pretty tall clayton lift with unknown added vehicle weight - it could be damage occuring to the front drive shaft joint. That joint is known to not be happy past 2.5” And its more a matter of time than if it fails.
• How worn are your front brakes? Have you been through mud or silt?
• who installed the lift? Were the control arms torqued to spec and with the vehicle load on the suspension before torquing?

internet video is a hard judging place for sound but if you did have a gopro that could help figure it out. Or you could have someone record in a parking lot as you drove by. Are you able to be certain if it is coming from the front or back?


it also helps to remove everything extra not bolted or secured from the vehicle. I had a clunk i thought was a driveline issue once and turned out to be a jack stand in the bed that Even though tied down was moving just enough to make a clunk on certain low speed dips

Uploading GoPro video now. It’s definitely coming from the rear and sounds like that spring. As soon as iCloud finishes I’ll post the video. However watching GoPro footage it isn’t always happening when braking but also when the suspension bounces. As far as brakes. Fairly still new Less than 20k on the truck and not driven very hard.
Mud and silt yes most Often in east TN.
Front driveshaft has been ordered locally still being built
Installer was me and a buddy taken to the shop afterwards for alignment and torque check after install.

To be clear the springs what we’re rattling are the rear springs which is where I think the noise is coming from.

 

[Newlife]

Video of the noise

The very faint clicking sound is the GoPro stick hitting my sliders

 

[chorky]

Hmm. I might be able to hear what you're talking about. I only have one ear - so hopefully someone else can chime in? But you do have an appointment so thats good.

To my ear, that does not at all sound like it would be a spring issue. However - I am not super familiar with the Clayton lift so I would be wondering what sort of spring isolators/spacers they use - what the material is made from.

To me that sounds more bushing like - so I would also question what their bushings are made out of. Matt of Ozark Overland Adventrues has a Clayton lift and in one of his recent videos the bushings are really starting to make a lot of noise. Your noise is more......deep, and not so much of a squeak.

Not gonna liet this one could be hard to find. I suggest looking very close over every single nut and bolt and contact point of all your accessories first - start there just to make sure there isn't some rubbing of something happening somewhere. and be sure to bring that video to the dealer with you.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

I don’t know if this video will work but while I was setting up my camera and looking for a place to mount it I came across this. Seems both of my springs are making a horrible metal on metal sound. I don’t know if this is it but it’s the only thing I can find rattling or loose. I did run my hand over as much if Frame I could find. Checked all suspension bolts for tightens including sway bar end links on the rear and even took my license plate off since I have an aftermarket steel bumper.

Video of the noise

The very faint clicking sound is the GoPro stick hitting my sliders

I have the exact same issue with Clayton springs. It's nothing about bolts or anything. Im 99.9% confident it's the coil stack at the top. I chased it around for months, it's the springs.

Comes and goes, usually up or down a hill (kinda like coming to a stop). I am going to change them out just have not yet.

IMO what is happening is if the axle angle isn't absolutely spot on or the spring shifts from off roading, the stacked portion is open a hair and rattles against itself.

 

[Newlife]

Hmm. I might be able to hear what you're talking about. I only have one ear - so hopefully someone else can chime in? But you do have an appointment so thats good.

To my ear, that does not at all sound like it would be a spring issue. However - I am not super familiar with the Clayton lift so I would be wondering what sort of spring isolators/spacers they use - what the material is made from.

To me that sounds more bushing like - so I would also question what their bushings are made out of. Matt of Ozark Overland Adventrues has a Clayton lift and in one of his recent videos the bushings are really starting to make a lot of noise. Your noise is more......deep, and not so much of a squeak.

Not gonna liet this one could be hard to find. I suggest looking very close over every single nut and bolt and contact point of all your accessories first - start there just to make sure there isn't some rubbing of something happening somewhere. and be sure to bring that video to the dealer with you.

Yeah that’s what I was thinking. Funny enough Clayton doesn’t use isolators but I found a thread that they recommend the metal cloak ones. Or factory ones now. Which I have not put in yet but seeming if this is where the noise is those may solve a good bit of it.

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