Exhaust/Rear End Rattle

[ozzie839]

FIrst post, love this forum, lots of good info here.

My 2020 XLT supercrew in the last 500 miles or so has developed a nasty rattle that can be heard and felt throughout the entire floor pan, but really sounds more like its coming from the rear of the vehicle. Any little bump makes the noise, very irritating. I had installed a tri-fold cover so first thought was to remove that and anything else from the truck, still have the rattle.

Proceeded to check bolts on factory add ons (running boards and hitch) and all were good. Got looking at the exhaust and noticed the front hanger is like throwing a hot dog down a hallway. It has a lot of movement within the rubber grommet as well as side to side play as seen in the video below.

Curious if anyone else has had this issue or has this much play in the hanger? It goes into the dealer Friday morning to look at this, trying to pinpoint these rattles can be a pain.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3FrA9mTItIg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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[Porpoise Hork]

There should be some movement in it since that's how it's designed. Most of if not all the noise from those grommets can be eliminated by applying some water resistant silicone lubricant. Just a little bit will take care of that.

The vibration you feel, is it just as you're accelerating and/or at 70ish mph? If so the exhaust pipe is not causing it. It's being cause by the driveshaft. Take a look at this thread https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/vibration-at-take-off.2092

If that's more in line with what you're experiencing then here is the fix for it.

 

[ozzie839]

There should be some movement in it since that's how it's designed. Most of if not all the noise from those grommets can be eliminated by applying some water resistant silicone lubricant. Just a little bit will take care of that.

The vibration you feel, is it just as you're accelerating and/or at 70ish mph? If so the exhaust pipe is not causing it. It's being cause by the driveshaft. Take a look at this thread https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/vibration-at-take-off.2092

If that's more in line with what you're experiencing then here is the fix for it.

Hmm, interesting read however, it's not really a vibration though, and this happens at any and every speed.

Most rubber hangers like that I have ever seen are typically very tight-fitting, I can maybe see the side to side play and how that would cause a squeak but I shouldn't be able to move it up/down/left/right, etc a quarter-inch or better.

it truly is like a rattle/continuous thud that sounds like its coming from the rear over every bump, speed doesnt amplify it/make it better or worse

I may try to attach a gopro under the truck and see if i can better pinpoint the sound

I'm going to request the tech ride along with me as well

 

[JaysOnTheEDGE]

Is your spare tire secured properly? that would cause a noise over bumps of it wasn't

 

[ozzie839]

Is your spare tire secured properly? that would cause a noise over bumps of it wasn't

Checked that as well. Interesting enough the spare is on right now while awaiting another tire and still have the noise.

 

[RedlandRanger]

Checked that as well. Interesting enough the spare is on right now while awaiting another tire and still have the noise.

If the spare is on could the rattle be the chain that secures the spare tire rattling around since it doesn't have anything to hold up? Just a thought....

 

[ozzie839]

If the spare is on could the rattle be the chain that secures the spare tire rattling around since it doesn't have anything to hold up? Just a thought....

Thought that as well, even went as far as to zip tie that sucker to the spare so it wouldn't.

It's more of a lower this/rattle pitch wise. The chain is a much higher pitch. Thump thump vs Ting ting. If that makes sense

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Thought that as well, even went as far as to zip tie that sucker to the spare so it wouldn't.

It's more of a lower this/rattle pitch wise. The chain is a much higher pitch. Thump thump vs Ting ting. If that makes sense

Hi Ozzie,

Your video shows it is generated by the powertrain, however the noise to me sounds more metallic than rubber isolation. It appears it can be reproduced on a hoist and will allow the tech to home in on the cause. A excitation to produce the sound can be installed on a rear wheel by addition of a wheel weight(s). Start the engine and put the trans in drive and slowly increase rpm until the noise occurs. Then hopefully the source of the noise can be determined and fixed. This can also be done in your garage with the rear wheels on jackstands with the help of a 2nd person to produce the sound while firmly on the brakes with the left foot....then you crawl around and locate the sound, hopefully. Squeak and rattles are some of the most challenging NVH issues a tech has to diagnose.

Good Luck!

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[RedlandRanger]

Thought that as well, even went as far as to zip tie that sucker to the spare so it wouldn't.

It's more of a lower this/rattle pitch wise. The chain is a much higher pitch. Thump thump vs Ting ting. If that makes sense

Yep, makes perfect sense. It was worth a shot. I hope you (or Ford) figures it out.

 

[ozzie839]

Hi Ozzie,

Your video shows it is generated by the powertrain, however the noise to me sounds more metallic than rubber isolation. It appears it can be reproduced on a hoist and will allow the tech to home in on the cause. A excitation to produce the sound can be installed on a rear wheel by addition of a wheel weight(s). Start the engine and put the trans in drive and slowly increase rpm until the noise occurs. Then hopefully the source of the noise can be determined and fixed. This can also be done in your garage with the rear wheels on jackstands with the help of a 2nd person to produce the sound while firmly on the brakes with the left foot....then you crawl around and locate the sound, hopefully. Squeak and rattles are some of the most challenging NVH issues a tech has to diagnose.

Good Luck!

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Thanks Phil,

Probably cost more than it's worth for the factory techs to figure out too haha. If they determine the hanger is fine and put some grease on it to remove that squeak, I'd have to think it's now more suspension/chassis than powertrain.

Probably in for a long road with this one.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Thanks Phil,

Probably cost more than it's worth for the factory techs to figure out too haha. If they determine the hanger is fine and put some grease on it to remove that squeak, I'd have to think it's now more suspension/chassis than powertrain.

Probably in for a long road with this one.

Hi Ozzie,

Keep me in the loop on this as I am always learning new stuff, even at 71 years old!

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[ozzie839]

Update: Hanger was greased and did nothing for the noise. Not surprised. Took them 3.5 hours to replace a tire and slob some grease on that hanger.

It goes back in the morning and I requested a tech ride with me, COVID be damned.

I mounted up a gopro tonight and drove around a bit, what I'm hearing in the cab is totally different than what I'm hearing back here(not surprised really), the spare chain at the end is not the sound since I had zip tied that before to be sure it wasnt it. I feel like this one will be tough to diagnose but given how the truck rides and the sound coming from the very rear i have to believe its suspension.

 

[RedlandRanger]

Update: Hanger was greased and did nothing for the noise. Not surprised. Took them 3.5 hours to replace a tire and slob some grease on that hanger.

It goes back in the morning and I requested a tech ride with me, COVID be damned.

I mounted up a gopro tonight and drove around a bit, what I'm hearing in the cab is totally different than what I'm hearing back here(not surprised really), the spare chain at the end is not the sound since I had zip tied that before to be sure it wasnt it. I feel like this one will be tough to diagnose but given how the truck rides and the sound coming from the very rear i have to believe its suspension.

That doesn't sound good, but I think you are correct, it does sound like something in the suspension to me. Not that I'm an expert or anything....

 

[CO2Ranger]

Update: Hanger was greased and did nothing for the noise. Not surprised. Took them 3.5 hours to replace a tire and slob some grease on that hanger.

It goes back in the morning and I requested a tech ride with me, COVID be damned.

I mounted up a gopro tonight and drove around a bit, what I'm hearing in the cab is totally different than what I'm hearing back here(not surprised really), the spare chain at the end is not the sound since I had zip tied that before to be sure it wasnt it. I feel like this one will be tough to diagnose but given how the truck rides and the sound coming from the very rear i have to believe its suspension.

Have you checked the shackle/bolts? Sounds like the sound is coming from very close to the camera. The shackle/hanger sounds like it could be loose.

*Not a mechanic so take that as an amateur opinion.

 

[ozzie839]

That doesn't sound good, but I think you are correct, it does sound like something in the suspension to me. Not that I'm an expert or anything....

Have you checked the shackle/bolts? Sounds like the sound is coming from very close to the camera. The shackle/hanger sounds like it could be loose.

*Not a mechanic so take that as an amateur opinion.

I haven't. Very well could be. I imagine after our drive tomorrow they'll put it up on the lift and start checking tightness of everything suspension related. ?‍

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