Rattle in rear near passenger side wheel well

[tomj76]

I have a '96 Windstar, 3.8L base model.

I've notice a bumping around, rattle type noise in the wheel well or below the adjacent floor at the right rear tire. I'm still looking into the cause at this point.

The "tracking bar" was replaced last year, and is firm and tight. The rear exhaust pipe was also replaced last year, and I've checked that it might be "tapping" on the body of the van by checking it's range of movement.

The shocks are relatively new (<50,000 miles)

Any thoughts, suggestions, or experience is welcome.

[AndrewTeal]

Have you actually, physically looked under the car/in the fender well thoroughly? If you have access to a lift pick the vehicle up and check for play in the wheel bearing side to side and up and down. Use a pry bar to check suspension components. Have someone put the vehicle in drive while in the air on a lift and look for any abnormal movement when/if you hear the sound. Check for rocks stuck in your tires. Check for out of round. Check everything!Tap things with your hand till you find the sound your hearing while driving. Noone can really know what's rattling without looking/ observing/ touching/ investigating it. Unless it's a common problem in which case maybe someone else could shed some light cause I can't.

[tomj76]

Thanks Andrew. You're right that it will take some hands on work to find the rattle. Right now my suspicions are bushings (shock & trailing arm), exhaust contact with the body, tracking arm, spring, wheel bearing, brakes, fuel tank, spare tire... As you said, it could be a simple as a loose bolt.

I think it would be good to apply the parking brake and use Drive & Reverse to move the vehicle while watching the suspension. That could show anything odd in the rear suspension.

[LTDzak]

Windstars can develop rust in between the inner and outer wheelhouses (e.g. wheel well, inside the passenger quarter panel), one of the more challenging fixes I've ever made.

[tomj76]

FYI, the problem was the shock absorber bushing. I replaced the shocks and the rattle was cured.