Hollow rattle from front end?

[ChrisAU]

How many miles? What kind of bumps causes the sounds. Mine has always made a squish/rattle sound over tall and sharp speed bumps.

In any case, check the IFS bushings to see if they are deteriorated or cracked. Then at least check the top of the struts to make sure the connections are tight. You can jack one of the front side up just to have the tire off the ground and check if there is any play by moving that tire. If there is that might help isolate the issue.

It is a 2WD. I don't think it is the hub/bearing because at no speed is there any sort of vibration whatsoever.

Imagine slowly shaking a rock around in a empty 2 liter soda bottle, that's what it sounds like. It doesn't take a severe bump to make the sound, and the sound isn't made any worse or louder by severe bumps, always the same.

 

[KMeloney]

It is a 2WD. I don't think it is the hub/bearing because at no speed is there any sort of vibration whatsoever.

Imagine slowly shaking a rock around in a empty 2 liter soda bottle, that's what it sounds like. It doesn't take a severe bump to make the sound, and the sound isn't made any worse or louder by severe bumps, always the same.

Wait -- Is it more of a "bobble" sound/feel? Sounds like it, based on the rock-in-a-plastic-bottle analogy. If so, I experienced the same thing, I think, and my mechanic figured it out. Seems there was something plastic that was loose in the engine bay, and he secured it. I just went to look in my engine bay, and I didn't notice anything immediately, so I'll have to ask him what it was. Maybe it was a fluid reservoir? Not sure... I'll have to ask him if he remembers what he secured...

Let me know if it sounds like we're on the same page here.

This is a DIFFERENT sound than what I was talking about earlier (which is more of a metallic jiggling noise under acceleration).

 

[ChrisAU]

Wait -- Is it more of a "bobble" sound/feel? Sounds like it, based on the rock-in-a-plastic-bottle analogy. If so, I experienced the same thing, I think, and my mechanic figured it out. Seems there was something plastic that was loose in the engine bay, and he secured it. I just went to look in my engine bay, and I didn't notice anything immediately, so I'll have to ask him what it was. Maybe it was a fluid reservoir? Not sure... I'll have to ask him if he remembers what he secured...

Let me know if it sounds like we're on the same page here.

This is a DIFFERENT sound than what I was talking about earlier (which is more of a metallic jiggling noise under acceleration).

Yeah we are on the same page, thanks. It definitely doesn't sound metallic. Another analogy would be a empty milk jug being beat not feverishly, but with sort of a pattern on solid thick metal.

 

[TerryKing]

Rattle on Tahoe??

Hi,

I have similar rattle. Found ALL the hubcaps/wheel covers are loose and rattle.
I'm on a dirt road; hear it only on those little bumps.

The 6 center platic nuts are as tight as possible and wheel cover still is a little loose and rattles..

Any fixes??

update: When I took the wheel covers off to do brakes and rotation I found the ACTUAL wheels look pretty cool. Cleaned them up, they look good, and those noisy wheel covers can decorate my barn

Regards, Terry King
...In The Woods in Vermont, USA
[email protected]

 

[Clean07Burb]

It is a 2WD. I don't think it is the hub/bearing because at no speed is there any sort of vibration whatsoever.

Imagine slowly shaking a rock around in a empty 2 liter soda bottle, that's what it sounds like. It doesn't take a severe bump to make the sound, and the sound isn't made any worse or louder by severe bumps, always the same.

Maybe you have a rock stuck in your washer fluid tank. lol

j/k

 

[quattrotman]

I had similar noises and when I looked under the hood both exhaust manifold heat shields had rusted/broken off and had fallen down into the engine bay and we're clunking around. One had also fallen onto the positive cable to the starter, rubbed off some of the insulation and was shorting out the starter occasionally. Almost bought a new starter before I saw those stupid covers in there.

 

[donbickle707]

I am also dealing with this same noise and can't seem to pin point it. It sounds like it is hitting up against the firewall, like some sort of bracket or something. Anyone ever figure this out?

 

[Donnie Yukonie]

I had an issue on my 92 and found it to be a loose shock bolt allowing the shock to clunk around a bit, Didn't even feel a difference while driving like that

 

[Anthony402]

Recently had the same problem...same noise in the front left on my 2003 tahoe.. I was already in the process of changing out my upper and lower ball joints... I checkd my shocks and they were shot....loose and rattling....i replaced both front shocks...the sound went away in the front end...well the rear end has same noise when goin over small bumps ... So im goin to replace the rear shocks tomorow. Will update if problem is fixed.

 

[donbickle707]

Already has all new ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar end links, and new bilstein shocks, my first thought was a loose shock, but it's all bolted up nice and tight.