Weird Clunk/Rattle noise rear passenger side

[jimmymoo]

Hi,

Recently picked up a 1999 QX4. The car drives fine but noticed there's weird clunk/rattle noise from rear passenger side that I can't seem to figure out where it's coming from. The noise would occur through light bumps, mostly through bad roads. But it's not correlated to suspension (so I don't think it's suspension issue). I've checked most of suggested on the forum such as spare tires, checked exhaust if it was knocking on something but it's not. It also sounds like it's coming from rear passenger door, but I knocked around there isn't any noise.

Any one experiencing this? Thanks

[Slumpert]

Check under the passenger seat.. That jack can make some good noises if loose

[jimmymoo]

That's actually my first guess before searching on the forum. I removed everything under the seat and the noise still persist.

It sounds a lot like something is rattling or knocking.

[zach7685]

Check your exhaust pipe. Then rock the SUV back and forth with it in the park and see if the axle is moving. if it is you most likely need new trailing arm bushings

[Slumpert]

Maybe try to lower the window on that door and see if the sound changes. A loose / broken mount for the window might make a dull thunk as the body goes side-side vs. normal suspension up down which you have ruled out.

Other than that try getting under the truck and giving things a little tug and a really good inspection of the frame rail. Maybe the gas tank shield took some damage or something.

[jimmymoo]

Thanks for the quick replies guys!

Zach - I did move around the exhaust pipe seeing if anything was knocking. The closest one was the muffler hanger but I moved that away but noise is still there. I will give it a try with rocking the car back and forth, but I can be certain it's not trailing arm as I just had it completely replaced (upper and lower)

Slumpert - I tried doing that method with lowering the window hoping something would hold in place but sound is still there with windows down. Thus the reason I've tried knocking around the door trim to see if anything was loose but it sounded fine.

Maybe I'll put some grease around the hinges later on and check the frame rails.

[Slumpert]

Tried putting tension on the front passenger seatbelt? Nothing else I can really think of that would possiby make a clunking sounds just on body roll.

Sounds like you need someone to drive while you scurry around in the back with a stethoscope... If your in Houston area I will be glad to help.

[jimmymoo]

That's really my next step is to have my friend drive the car while I scavenge for the noise. Thanks for the help and offer! Wish I was in Houston

[yngw13]

maybe the door weather strips are getting thin...causing the door to hit the adjascent door frame...try reinforcing it with a towel or some filler material to stop the door from shaking....

if not it could be the door handle / cover / interior siding ....not sure what that sound would be like but Im guessing it could be internal hardware...

[jimmymoo]

It does sound like an internal hardware that's loose, knocking on something. It doesn't happen until it goes through rough bumps. To me, sitting on the driver side, it sounds like it's coming from the rear passenger door.

I'll need to look at the weather strips again. Last i checked they looked pretty decent with no apparent thinning or damage. Maybe I'll just take the door trims off to see if anything is loose inside.

[zach7685]

Oh check the 3rd brake light

Also try wrapping some electrical tape around the door rear door latch if the black plastic has come off

[jimmymoo]

Checked 3rd brake light. It seems to be nice and tight. Nothing Loose.

Anybody have instruction on how to remove the trunk side trims? particularly the trims around the rear wheel (Inside). I'm starting to suspect something is loose inside.

[abnrjd]

Sounds like those trailing arms bushings are gone. I re-did mine with polyeurathane inserts. First off this job isnt easy however I will try to make this as simple as possible.
1. Go online and look for the polyeurathane inserts I cant remember the site but its out there
2. The kit comes with split poly inserts for both upper and lower trailing arms, sleeves and the bolts and nuts.
3. You are going to need a 4 point lift because this processs involves lowering the entire rear axle
If you cant get someone to press out the old bushings then here's what I did, probally cheaper.
Use a heavy vise and a socket press out the retaining bolt sleeve from the old trailing arms, all 8 of them. Then use a reciprocating saw and cut the rubber and the inner sleeve in two places BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL NOT TO CUT INTO THE TRAILING ARM, JUST ENOUGH TO CUT THE INNER METAL SLEEVE. Once the inner sleeve is cut in two places use a hammer and screw driver and drive out the pieces. I did this to my 04 Plat Path. If you decide to replace the trailing arm with some after market ones in a years time you'll have the same problem all over again. I reccomend just using the existing control arms and just replace the rubber parts with polyeurathane inserts. No More Death Sway. Good Luck

[Slumpert]

Trailing arms are steel... rubber inserts are rubber.. sounds like a barbque pit, some charcoal, and 30mins is all you need to "remove" those ruber brushings..

[jimmymoo]

Anybody have instruction on how to remove the trunk side trims? particularly the trims around the rear wheel (Inside). I'm starting to suspect something is loose inside.

[Towncivilian]

Begin by prying from the trunk area side trim, around where the two trim pieces (side trim and the bottom trunk trim held in by screws) meet. Pry gently as to avoid breaking / bending trim clips excessively.

[humroy]

Hey, did you fix the noise on your pathfinder? I had the same problem and I was able to fix it.

The problem is the weld seam within the rear passenger side door. (the sound is a tinny, clicking, rattling that is constant over rough road). The solution is to open the rear passenger door, remover the weather stripping from the wheel arch side. Then use pliers to tighten the seam by bending it one way, then a few inches up or down bend it the other way, and so on. Don't bend it more than 1/8th of an inch on each go. Check to see if problem is fixed. Best of luck.

[mateen110]

hate to bump an old thread, but wondering if this issue was ever fixed? I'm having the same noise you describe except it sounds like its from the rear driver side. Sounds like the jack is rattling under the seat over bumps, but happens only occasionally.

Tried to eliminate many of the potential culprits listed above but have had no luck.

[rgk]

This annoying rattle is caused by the rear shock absorber, specifically where the shock meets the upper bracket. Yep, I'm the guy squatting in his luggage area, listening for the noise, while his wife circles the Wal Mart parking lot.

Twist each shock by hand and see whether the offending side makes a slight metallic noise when twisting. It should not.

If it does, try tightening the nut and bolt. If your shocks are worn, this will not help. You will have to replace the shocks.

I replaced my shocks, and the sound went away... for about a week. I lived with it for a while until seeing this resurrected thread (don't apologize!), which inspired me to tighten the nut and bolt at the upper mount. This solved the problem. For how long? We shall see. If the nut and bolt continues to loosen, I may look into replacing the bracket altogether.

[JPK Omaha]

Another possibility for noise is rusty/loose running boards

[Ksthompson]

JPK, I recently got a QX4 from here in Omaha that has exactly what you mentioned. Rusted running boards, so I just took them off and tossed them... rattling gone.

[00pathyse]

Check the rear sway bar links.