Spare tire Thud/Rattle

[Fatfireman]

Soooo… my wife backed into another car and it looks like the spare tire is the only thing that made contact. Its now making a pretty deep rattle/thud over bumps and even when you close it. I took the spare off and it stopped. I put it back on in a different orientation than it was before, but it’s still rattling. Any thoughts?

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[Ryan_SC]

Two thoughts. 1) Check to see if the little rubber bump stops that keep the spare tire rubber from touching the tailgate are still in place and not mushed or missing. I think there are two of them. 2) Check to see if your tire iron, and various extensions are sliding around in the metal area. (I had a rattle because I didn’t put that tire iron pouch back in the correct location. I would turn and here metallic clunks/rattles. Drove me crazy til I found it.)

 

[Bschurr]

I would also confirm that the actual mount for the spare is not cracked and causing the noise once the weight of the spare is applied. Good luck & glad your wife is OK!

 

[helifino16]

And for god's sake, don't contact your Insurance company. Lately, they hear that a Bronco got 'bumped' and they go right to totaling the car out.

 

[Fatfireman]

And for god's sake, don't contact your Insurance company. Lately, they hear that a Bronco got 'bumped' and they go right to totaling the car out.

Gonna have to contact them....she might've backed into a brand new car on a dealers lot.

 

[Fatfireman]

Two thoughts. 1) Check to see if the little rubber bump stops that keep the spare tire rubber from touching the tailgate are still in place and not mushed or missing. I think there are two of them. 2) Check to see if your tire iron, and various extensions are sliding around in the metal area. (I had a rattle because I didn’t put that tire iron pouch back in the correct location. I would turn and here metallic clunks/rattles. Drove me crazy til I found it.)

The stops are still there. Should the screws on those tighten all the way? Mine spin making me wonder if something in the tailgate is broken??

 

[Fatfireman]

I would also confirm that the actual mount for the spare is not cracked and causing the noise once the weight of the spare is applied. Good luck & glad your wife is OK!

I will do that for sure, good idea. Thanks for the help.

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

The stops are still there. Should the screws on those tighten all the way? Mine spin making me wonder if something in the tailgate is broken??

No, they don’t tighten all the way. They never snug up. They just push out the grabby part of a plastic grommet when all the way in. You can actually just thumb-push them in and skip the screwdriver. Same result.

 

[Fatfireman]

No, they don’t tighten all the way. They never snug up. They just push out the grabby part of a plastic grommet when all the way in. You can actually just thumb-push them in and skip the screwdriver. Same result.

Thank you, that helps as well.

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