Something's Rattling, Where To Start Looking?

Got a few things done to Willie past few days including tac and speedo. So far all trips have been close to home (couple mikes max) just in case, as I begin to get confidence in a 58 year old vehicle. Today, I decided to venture out all the way to the grocery store 6 1/2 miles each way. I told the wife to keep the phone handy just in case I needed to call for a tow home. First thing I noticed is when going about 45 and 2800 rpm I would hear a major raddle somewhere under neath about the place where the PTO shifter cover plate is. It's a stock '58 with the F134, etc and NO PTO. If I would bring rpm's down under the 2800, it would go away. I felt around and nothing loose up top (seats, gas tank, shifters, cover plates, etc). So I tried staying in second and again about 2800 it came back. Everything else seems to be running fine. I'm not feeling it back up thru the shifters and holding them does not affect the sound. Where should I start the looking?

 

factory parking brake set up on the transfer? those things can be noisy.

 

Something to consider, pull the PTO cover plate off and check the Transmission main shaft nut is tight. That is not hard to do, and you will get a look inside. You can make a new gasket, or just clean the cover and use silicone gasket maker. It will give you an idea what is going on inside the Trans and Transfer case. Just a thought.

 

intermediate gear rattle . shaft worn

 

Put transfer case in neutral and do what you would normally do driving down the road. Maybe you can duplicate the rattle at same RPM?

 

You did say it's not the shifters - but the hi-lo shift lever is a common source of rattle, when the shaft and pivot get worn. There was even an anti-rattle device, but they can be missing.

 

Nothing in the tool box but pulling the PTO cover is a good idea, as well as the T case in neutral.

 

If you sit in your driveway and put it in neutral, then run your engine up to 2800 or so does it rattle?
Do you have a top on your JEEP?
How did you mount your tach?
How about the latches for the windshield? are they snug?
When you get the engine up to 2800 rpm do you feel any vibrations? Through the seat of your pants? Through the steering wheel under your hands?

I have plates that are mounted to my front that are supposed to have a tow bar bolted to them that I have quick-connect linkage rings fastened to. Those rings rattle at certain engine speeds and sound like they are in the cab with me, even though they are way up front.
Could be the cable for the tranny-mounted E-brake is a tad loose and you are hearing that rattle against anything the cable runs close to on it's way up to the handle under the dash.
Could also be your steering column where the mount is at the dash. There is supposed to be an insulating donut there for vibrations between the dash and the column.

Could also be something as silly as the keys on your keyring rattling against the dash.

 

Like Glenn says, it is hard to tell, my Jeep rattled, I looked everywhere, could not find where it was coming from. I changed the windshield gasket, the whole Jeep got quieter, had to adjust the latches it was so tight. Best thing I done to make it stop rattling. Good luck.

 

Mine had a rattle, it was the lever itself. the shaft was worn. fix was a short bungee..

 

Sometimes these anti-rattle springs are missing, as I mentioned above.

 

Also, do you have the return spring in place, from the E-Brake 'operating lever' to the rear frame crossmember?

 

Yes, I recently ordered one from Walcks. It did not have one to start with and I don't remember hearing the noise then, but I did not have a working speedo or tac to know if I was at that range. One time I did use my phone to approximate the speed of 45 and did not hear it, which was before I put that spring on. So first step is to remove that spring and go for a drive.

 

Or just turn the radio up loud and forget the whole thing.

 

I'll go for a good one. Do you have hub caps?

 

I had a rattle in my rear wheel, I don't hear very well, could only hear it when by a wall so the sound would be reflected so I could hear it. Pulled the rear wheel off and the axel cap was bouncing around inside the center cap on my mag wheel. Replaced the axel cap and wheel center, problem solved.

 

Found the rattle. The parking brake was missing the return spring when I got Willie. So I had ordered the spring and connecting rod from Walcks. I didn't see an obvious attaching spot so I connected it part of the crossmember. Well it slid over some over time and was real close to something (I believe the drum) and looked like it could vibrate and touch. So moved it over again and sound gone. Actually got to 50 mph and still had some peddle. That problem solved, but now where exactly does the spring linkage hook to the frame/whatever?

 

Should be a hole on the rear crossmember just left of center.

Between #19 and #20 on the diagram.

 

Found that drawing tonight myself in my new Christmas present parts book. Now to crawl under and look for it. Thanks PeteL