Boneman

OK it's been cold and rat nasty and I've been unable to really get under the '05 4.0l machine to find a RATTLE RATTLE RATTLE... that oddly enough started shortly after having Ford look at the car pursuant to a TSB.

Me and everyone that had ridden in the car were convinced it was coming from the rear. So I finally get under there yesterday in earnest... and can find NOTHING....

So... thinking on it a bit... and knowing how wonderfully sounds can travel in a unibody vehicle... I try to get the car to make the same sound whilst on flat ground. YES. There it is.

Still sounds like it's coming from the rear.

NO. After a bit of tinkering around... I realize it's coming from the FRONT of the car. So, I rock the LF fender... and there it is... only not very severe. Rock the RF fender and THAT'S IT.

Upon closer examination, I jack her up... remove the RF wheel... jack her back down with a stand under the control arm... and whilst in the process.... I see the ridiculous amount of play at the sway bar drop link... the upper portion.

Don't know how... but the doggone thing had loosened up considerably. Tightened it up... GONE. No more rattle.

So if you've got an insane rattle that seems to appear for no reason and can't locate it... Have a gander at the sway bar connections. I can't imagine mine is the only one out there that just worked itself loose on it's own.