wierd suspension rattle

**nissanaltimacrazyhorse** · 01-15-2008, 07:02 AM

I have a suspension rattle or something thats loose up front. It doesn't do it over every bump seems to do it more when the bumps are right in a row, dirt roads it make the noise come out more. Cant seem to find anything loose has not gone mudding or anything major just 2 trips in the snow very short trips thought. I brought it to the dealer 2 for it can't find anything wrong tech says everything is tight nogthings loose. What am i supposed to do thinking about bringing it to different dealership for a second opinion? Could that help. I love the fj just this one problem.

**JoeUser** · 01-15-2008, 08:11 AM

Not trying to be a smart-arse or anything, but you don't have anything loose in the dash-box or glove-box, do you?

The sound that you think might be coming from under the vehicle might be the underdash sound of something rattling in one of those two boxes. I know from experience, as I had a garage door opener in my dash-box that I thought was secure, but drove me crazy thinking that I had something loose (will be padding that box very soon with felt)...

**nissanaltimacrazyhorse** · 01-15-2008, 01:26 PM

no i dont think so unless the manual is making that noise along with the registration lol but not sure if im going deaf but tried to get the noise to do it this morning but didn't do it in the spot it usually happens. Keep everyone posted.

VT_RainMan · 01-16-2008, 12:41 PM

Try checking the front skid... I've had some loose stones up in there that make some awful noise when the road gets rough. If you crawl under your rig and bang the under side of it.. you'll know right off if that is where the noise is coming from.

I usually just take off the oil pan drain cover and reach my hand in there... But, I have also had to remove the entire skid. That damn skid is a PITA!!!!

**JoeUser** · 01-16-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

VT_RainMan previously said:

Try checking the front skid... I've had some loose stones up in there that make some awful noise when the road gets rough. If you crawl under your rig and bang the under side of it.. you'll know right off if that is where the noise is coming from.

I usually just take off the oil pan drain cover and reach my hand in there... But, I have also had to remove the entire skid. That damn skid is a PITA!!!!

I take it you're referring to the 'bling' plate from Toyota? If so, I removed mine (after seeing what one looked like on another rig after a few rocks). Hard to believe there's a couple of flimsy brackets holding it on, too. It's now taking up space in the garage...

VT_RainMan · 01-16-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

JoeUser previously said:

I take it you're referring to the 'bling' plate from Toyota? If so, I removed mine (after seeing what one looked like on another rig after a few rocks). Hard to believe there's a couple of flimsy brackets holding it on, too. It's now taking up space in the garage...

yeah I hear ya... The useless bling plate... it's more like a shovel than a skid plate.

But anyhow, I'm referring to the black flimsy skid covering your oil pan. You have to remove an oval plastic cover to change your oil. Does that make more sense?

Fjamming · 01-16-2008, 03:43 PM

What does it sound like? If you bounce on the rails can you hear it? Does it sound like a squeak, a groan, rolling rocks, or something else? Don't have much to go on here.

**nissanaltimacrazyhorse** · 01-17-2008, 12:15 AM

doesnt happen if i bounce on the rails it might be a rock but i doubt it, it happens in the same spot everytime i drive home over rough pavement thats all torn up in like a 20 foot section. Then it doesn't happen over anything else except some dirt roads sounds like a rattle in the front, noise is coming from the front left more than the right. Its weird because it doesn't happen over big pot holes or anything so i dont know what it could be doesn't sound like anything major just a pain in my ass.

VT_RainMan · 01-17-2008, 07:36 AM

Sounds more and more like rocks in the skid to me. When you go over a big bump there is a lot of other noise to cover it up. But, smaller bumps makes it vibrate on that thin a$$ skid. It's like a tin can with marbles in it. You shake the can hard and it goes thump... you rattle it slightly and it makes a complete different sound. Crawl underneath and pound on it. If it you hear rocks rattling around... you will know that is the issue.

But, this is completely from my experience. Your issue could be something complete different. Like a loose tie rod or maybe some loose heat shield or who knows what.

**nissanaltimacrazyhorse** · 01-17-2008, 12:22 PM

ill do that seems like something stupid like that considering it doesn't do it any other time so it doesn't sound major, but its 20 degrees outside so really don't want to go crawl in the snow ill let you know in a day or two.