96 Cherokee
I have had this rattling sound and have been chasing my tail trying to figure it out.

What it sounds like is a nut and bolt just hanging somewhere and everytime a hit a bump it rattles (not pop) but rattles. Basically go drill a oversized hole in a piece of metal. Stick a skinnyer bolt with a washer and nut and barly thread the nut on but dont bottom it out. Now shake it... there is my rattle.

I noticed yesterday that if I give a little brake pressure it doesn't do it. It sounds like from the passenger side tire so I figured I had a caliber hanging there and that wasnt it.

Any ideas? Ive looked all over hell and back for this sound

 

Loose heat shield perhaps?

 

Where would that be?

 

The thin metal "plate" that is behind the rotor to keep dirt/water off the brakes. Could even be the little castle nut that covers the axle nut.

 

Which axke nut are you talking about?

 

Go under the hood & axles and look for anything that looks like formed sheet metal. Make sure the exhaust is cool enough to touch stuff, and start manually testing out tightness of them with your hands.

The reason heat shields tend to be a culprit is because they are thin, vibrate a lot and are subject to rust more than other parts. There aren't that many, but usually if you hear a buzz or rattle, you'll be able to tell by poking around pretty easily what can be causing it.

 

Loose flexplate bolts perhaps? My XJ has that issue right now...hopefully fix that one of these next days..

 

Just watched a few videos. Its not the flex plate. Only rattles with bumps

 

Although it wouldn't make sense in correlation with pressing your brake pedal, you might want to check your exhaust flange bolts. Mine have come loose and made an awful rattle already (not to mention an exhaust leak)

 

I just crawled under and checked anything I could think of. Only things loose were the fasteners for the ribber skidplate dust shield ordeal which I pulled out. And the fan shroud has a little rattle. But I dont understand how the brakes would stop ither of those

 

Chech the axle u-joint. I have an F150 that does the exact same thing and found out the axle u-joint is shot.

 

Im about ready to lay on the hood. Have my wife drive and record the noise. Its driving me insane. Its to tingy sounding to have force on it. So idk what to think ive checked everything I can think of.

 

I hate it when people post like I'm about to, but mine was a loose fastener holding the steering stabilizer at one end.

 

pull the cowl off and check your wiper assembly and anything else under there.

 

Not a bad idea.

I can tell you guys alot of horror stories involving rattles from my days at the Jeep dealership. Leave no stone unturned!!!