Rattling and bouncing

ALEX CASTRO

MEMBER
2008 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR
5.4L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
180,000 MILES

I had my rear air suspension replaced two years ago. I started to hear a rattle on the rear driver side, like a loose washer. Soon enough, my rear left tire started to wobble like crazy. I took it back and it turns out, from what they said, there was a missing long bolt and nut. They fixed it and have been good for a year. Now the rear right is starting the same sound when I hit a bump or rough road, also this time around 65+ mph, the rear shakes/bounces. Any idea what it could be?

5 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Hi Alex,

Suspension rattles are very hard to figure out without hearing them or inspecting the vehicle so the best thing I can do is give you ways to check them out.

Since you have experience with this noise, the first thing you want to do is check the lugs to make sure they are tight. The last thing you want to do is wait for that to get worse and the tire can come off.

I would put a socket and ratchet on the lugs and make sure they are tight. As for why they are loosening (assuming it is the same thing) that is because they are not torquing them properly. Either they are under-torqued, over-torqued, or the threads of the studs are dirty preventing the lugs from tightening properly.

No matter what, if this is done properly and all the lugs are installed not just most of them for each wheel, they should not loosen.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/wheel-removal-and-re-installation

I would suggest either remove them and inspect them your self or take it back where it was and have them inspect each stud and replace all the lug nuts again. The studs should look clean and not be rusty or dirty. If they are, then they need to be replaced. Also, if this is already lose then the studs are most likely damaged because the noise you are hearing is the wheel grinding on the studs, again assuming this is the same noise.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Wednesday, June 12th, 2019 AT 12:51 PM

ALEX CASTRO

MEMBER
3 POSTS

The tire was replaced yesterday, and even then the old tire did the same thing. It would make a sound like a loose washer every time I hit a bump, rough road, or go over railroad tracks. The other time I heard the same noise on the rear driver side. When I made a left turn, it felt like I lost the tire, but it was still on and the tire looked like it was on a slant. It wobbled as I tried to exit the freeway. When I took it back to the mechanic that fixed it, he just said a bolt was missing but didn't give me any details. But it was something to do with the replaced airbags.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Wednesday, June 12th, 2019 AT 2:04 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

I would suggest taking this in to have checked out as soon as you can. It sounds like either the tire is loose or you have a loose suspension component. Either way, this is not that safe to drive around like that. It sounds most like a suspension component which is why it feels odd when driving. Also, the air bag in the rear would explain why it was on a slant. This is used to keep the suspension at the proper height and alignment. When the air bag does not have air in it, the top of the tire goes inward toward the vehicle.

Again, these are difficult to figure out with out inspected but just from what you described, I would get it in and figured out.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

+1

Wednesday, June 12th, 2019 AT 3:04 PM

ALEX CASTRO

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Well, took it to a mechanic, and the rattling noise was coming from my caliper. It was replaced and no more sound is coming from the rear passenger side. Thanks for your prompt responses.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Monday, June 17th, 2019 AT 8:32 PM

KASEKENNY