2017 Nissan Altima plastic on metal rattle sound only on large bumps

Maintenance/Repairs
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1

Hello,

For the past few weeks I’ve been hearing this loud rattle sound coming from the rear right when that wheel hits a large bump. It definitely sounds like something plastic hitting something metal. I drove around with my dad driving while I was in the trunk to try to find where the noise is coming from and couldn’t find it. And it only happens when there is a large bump and when the right rear wheel hits it. Sometimes it’s only one rattle other times it’s a few really quick. We looked online and the most common theory for a rattle is the trunk torsion bars but they’re secure and even when I was in the trunk I held onto them and the noise still happened. It’s a very annoying noise and if someone has an idea that they’d like to share that would be awesome!

Thank you!
Max

2

Bad shock top mount, or bad shock is my first guess. A wild guess…'cause I can’t hear it in person, and no, a video won’t help… I need to hear the direction of the sound and feel it with my hands.

Could also be something under the car that is loose or worn out- stabilizer bar links, bushings ect.

Get the car on a lift so you can look underneath and find the issue. Or pay a shop to do that. They have cool tools that can help isolate noises.

3 Likes
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Just as a caution if the vehicle were to be rear ended by another vehicle riding in the truck would be one of the last places a person should be .

1 Like
5

Sweet! Thank you! I’ll definitely check those things out

6

Yeah we made sure to be careful and to use side streets that weren’t busy