rattling at highway speeds.

[Pstroke96]

im hearing this rattle at higher speeds, it sorta sounds like a box or marbles but it isnt real loud.it doesnt do it all the time bit its pretty often, its most noticable when im light on or off the throttle at 45- 60 mph. i herd somewhere that a torque converter will make this noise when its on its way out but i dont know if theres any truth behind that statement. what could it be?
thanks guys

 

[Tom S]

I think you will find a convertor only makes that noise when it is not locked.

 

[powerstrokin15]

i cant focus on anything on this page for that avatar..

 

[Pstroke96]

i popped it into neutral when i was slowing down and it continued to make the noise, it doesnt seem to do it under 20 miles an hour

 

[Sodbuster Jr.]

i popped it into neutral when i was slowing down and it continued to make the noise, it doesnt seem to do it under 20 miles an hour

I had the same noise in my truck. I don't want to just state out the obvious, but have you checked your glove box for something rattling in there? I some fuses laying in the bottom of mine that were making the noise. I've never heard of the torque converter making a noise like that though.

 

[Pstroke96]

I have shone through the inside and anything that might rattle but the toolbox is next. It isn't doing anything out of the ordinary no shake or smells all the temperatures are where they are supposed to be

 

[Sodbuster Jr.]

I have shone through the inside and anything that might rattle but the toolbox is next. It isn't doing anything out of the ordinary no shake or smells all the temperatures are where they are supposed to be

I feel as if there are so many places where noises could come from on the trucks as they get older. Your best bet would be to try, which may prove to be impossible, to somewhat locate where the noise is coming from, and go from there.

 

[Pstroke96]

yeah it really could be anything i just wanted to ask the guys that really know to make sure that it wasnt a sign of an up comming total catastrophic failure im gonna get under it again this weekend and start shaking things around to see if i can re create it. i couldnt make it do it in the driveway today

 

[chromehound]

I had a '79 that would make a rattle at anything over 50mph turns out one of the straps inside the rear fender that keeps the bed side from moving was broke and was hitting itself and was just loud enough at the higher speeds for me to hear. Just something to look at.

 

[Pstroke96]

i spent a while today under the truck pulling on everything and i still couldnt find it, i greased up the front end with no luck, what else should i check?

 

[cfdeng7]

Can u give somewhat of an origin of the noise? Front middle rear?

 

[Pstroke96]

its definately the front half of the truck. it sort of sounds like its right under my feet

 

[cfdeng7]

How are the spring bushings? Also when u checked stuff did u jack the front end of the truck off the ground?

 

[Pstroke96]

the spring bushings are a bit dry rotted on the outside but the bolts are still centered in the springs. i planned on jacking the truck up but my floor jack had other plans. im gonna get a new one and get back under it today.

 

[Pstroke96]

i jacked up the front end and nothing was loose. i jacked up the rear end and i think i found my issue, both u joints had a little play and neither one would take grease. i replaced the front one last year and the rear one not that long ago, both with precision joints, is there anywhere i can go to get the spicer ones that belong there? i have time tonight if i can get them.

 

[Pstroke96]

the u joints checked out i removed the grease fittings and replaced them and they took grease, but i noticed my sway bar main bushings are shot, after replacing them with moog ones last year, what is a better replacement?

 

[7.3Diesel]

mine does that too. it was the little plastic piece that is under the light switch. It says XLT

 

[Pstroke96]

okay, so now this noise has gotten even more mysterious. it has totally stopped. it does it totally none, and i did nothing to fix it. go figure, hopefully it doesnt come back.