A7X

That's really weird, heat shrouds make a very identifiable tinny noise, u joints make clicks, squeals and grinding also vibrations especially under load...

You could've determined whether to suspect heat shields or something else by trying to replicate the "rattle" whilst in park and rev to the rpm range that you hear it when driving, that would be a shield if replicated because you weren't moving (even if you have to put it in gear to lower RPMs and rev a bit while on the brake)... A shield rattle will occur at a certain rpm range(s) when the exhaust vibrates at the right frequency to cause the loose metal rattle... If it only happens when the drive line is in motion it wouldn't be a heat shield

I wouldn't be able to let a "rattle" go for a year haha it'd kill me!

Just hard to imagine a u joint making a tinny rattle...

hotpursuit58

when im in park or put it in neutral, it doesn't do it. it happens while im driving..and if it was a u joint wouldnt it squeak instead of rattle?

hotpursuit58

it sounds exactly like this. only on the right side.

if the link doesnt work search: 04 F150 Rattling Sound going up 208 on Throttle

this isn't my truck or video but i got the same problem.

A7X

^It's seems he has a blown cat causing the noise... ^

Also u joints can make a few different noises, as I stated above...

The only real way to check the u joints good if you're not sure is to pull the drive shaft, and check em good... It is impossible to go under the truck and wiggle a bad u joint when there is tension on the drive line, they won't move... You might be able to jack it up and get some play but I'd suggest pulling the shaft.

hotpursuit58

well im gonna try and figure out if its the u joint. and i think my cam phasers are going to have be replaced. truck sounds like a diesel...great

aerosurfer

A year yeah..... call it straight laziness on my part. I did crawl underneath and shake everything thinking it was a shroud from time to time.

The Rattle would happen only moving and not under a load (5 speed) and it would make a good clunk when I would go from coasting or neutral into gear.
That's why i always thought it was the slip yoke.

It was a noticeable rattle and clunk not a squeak at all. Once I actually looked at the Driveshaft it was clear that the rear UJ was shot, and probably lucky it never totally failed on me. the forward one was fine, but changed them both out anyways.

I know the heat shield frequency sound too, but just thought I would share my experience, YMMV

aerosurfer

I guess if its bad enough it will move.... Not bragging about that out of personal experience.

Put the truck in neutral and crawl under there, you can defiantely see if there is play in the driveshaft on the ground. If nothing else, look at the UJ. mine was bad enough to see damage to the bearings when I finally did something.

Pulling the Driveshaft was easy, just 4 bolts on the diff and it drops and slides right out.

bradseabridge

I had an extremely annoying rattle tinging when accelerating, turns out I had like an identification plate from one of the cats fell off and was in between the heat shield and the cat rattling like a SOB. The rivets that held it on rusted out and that's how it fell off I got it out with a pair of needle nose pliers and no noise ever since.