Hello. The past 2 days I was driving home with my windows down since it has been cooler and when I am going over bumpy roads I hear a rattling noise coming from what seems to be under and towards the rear of my Jeep (But could be elsewhere) which sounds almost exactly like someone has tied a tambourine to the bottom of my XJ. I know that is a very vague idea but hopefully someone can give me a sense of what to look at first that could possibly make a noise of that type should it come loose. Obviously certain things would make heavier thumps and bangs. This is more of a light rapid rattle..Like a tambourine

 

Maybe your cat,a piece might of broke off inside and is rattling around

 

Could be the parking brake cable rattling, but it could be anything. Crawl under there and start banging on stuff under there and see if you can duplicate what you're hearing.

 

It's the sound of the Chrysler gods clicking their teeth in anticipation.

 

I had this exact problem - turns out the auto adjuster in my left brake drum had rusted away and broken off completely. It was rattling around inside.

 

I will jack up the rear and start hitting on things with a hammer and see if I can make the same sound appear. Of course with the weight off the suspension something things tighten up which were loose on the road.

As long as I didn't run over Stevie Nicks I'll be alright.

 

If it's steady enough I might try (gently) applying the e-brake and see if it changes. I've had heat shields rattle on other rigs...not my Jeep though.

Darn right, be nice to Stevie Nicks.

 

While you're under there banging on things check the heat shield around the cat. I just screwed mine together at the pinch welds (for the second time).

 

Would there happen to be a tambourine attached to the bottom of your Jeep?

I second the brake components rotting away.

 

Hey guys had the same issue on my XJ it would sound like a tambourine was tied underneath was freaking annoying as hell!! After looking at my break system I found that the PARK BRAKE STRUT SPRING on my drum was toast causing the Strut to rattle like crazy!! This is not a picture of my drum I was too excited when I found what it was and fixed it that I forgot to take a picture. Hahaha

I just bought the drum rebuilt kit (came with both sides) and the noise was gone. SO GLAD!
hope this helps some of you.




​​​​​​​PARK BRAKE STRUT AND SPRING

 

Well since the thread’s already been resurrected, mine’s making a similar noise. However I already know it’s one of the leaf spring clips. The rubber insert came out and it rattles like crazy. I’ll get to that at some point