Gnarly tailgate rattle

[telenerd]

I have a 22 that falls within the tsb. I put on the RC tail gate support and that helped, but still had the tic. I added weather stripping and grease and that helped and now it’s back unfortunately. I even added new wheels that are 10 pounds lighter.

Are dealers just swapping the tail gates?

Have you tried removing the spare and driving without it on the tail gate and see if the tick is still there? I got a small tick too. Not entirely sure where it’s coming from but the tick did slightly go away after torquing the spare bolts slightly over spec. With the stock torque they kept on coming loose.

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[LSW]

Here is what it sounds like in mine, ‘24 Wildtrak (click at the end of the clip):

put so much lithium grease and varied spare lug nut torque, torqued and Loctited carrier mount bolts, guess it’s just going to do this.

 

[ATLien]

Here is what it sounds like in mine, ‘24 Wildtrak (click at the end of the clip):

put so much lithium grease and varied spare lug nut torque, torqued and Loctited carrier mount bolts, guess it’s just going to do this.

It seems there about about 5-6 different noises lumped into this thread, but this is the first video that sounds like my issue. Seems like something swinging and tapping against body or frame somewhere. Sounds can be deceiving I know, but mine seems to from come down low (sounds lower than the tailgate, but who knows), on the driver's side. I also have a 24 wildtrak. Posted about it in anothe thread here: https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/clicking-noise-lower-left-rear.92352/#post-2214426

 

[LSW]

I know it has been noted earlier but as the weather warms up significantly where I live the gnarly tailgate rattle has subsided somewhat. It still does it, but it's mabye 50% of what it was when the weather was below freezing 32F/0C every morning. Now that it's usually closer to 50F it's improving.

I've tried 41 ft lbs, 66 ft lbs, and even *gasp* 100 ft lbs on the spare tire lug nuts and none of that seemed to make a difference.

 

[LSW]

Found mine. Made my wife drive me around while I sat in the cargo. Found this dangling like a pendulum in the behind the left side back interior panels. It was dangling way toward the back and I had to reach my arm back there to reach it. Quiet now since I taped it up and zip tied it thankfully! Temperature differences, lube, and spare torque effects must’ve been my imagination.
Anyone know how to clean up a can of lithium grease inside the tailgate?

 

[ATLien]

Found mine. Made my wife drive me around while I sat in the cargo. Found this dangling like a pendulum in the behind the left side back interior panels. It was dangling way toward the back and I had to reach my arm back there to reach it. Quiet now since I taped it up and zip tied it thankfully! Temperature differences, lube, and spare torque effects must’ve been my imagination.
Anyone know how to clean up a can of lithium grease inside the tailgate?

"dangling like a pendulum" is exactly how my sound behaves; like something swinging back and forth, and bouncing off the body as you drive. My sound is also definitely on the left side. However I checked the spot after seeing your post and everything seems secure in there. Could you see the dangling part when you first opened the panel, or did you have to feel around in there to find it? I wasn't able to see, or feel anything loose on mine.

 

[LSW]

"dangling like a pendulum" is exactly how my sound behaves; like something swinging back and forth, and bouncing off the body as you drive. My sound is also definitely on the left side. However I checked the spot after seeing your post and everything seems secure in there. Could you see the dangling part when you first opened the panel, or did you have to feel around in there to find it? I wasn't able to see, or feel anything loose on mine.

I had to look straight back from that panel toward the back, this cable and harness was dangling straight up and down almost all the way back at the taillight. I spotted it with a small flashlight pointed toward the tail in that opening and just sticking my arm in there and feeling around. It was probably dangling 10-15 inches behind where I am holding it in those pictures. I suspect it might've been something the dealer did when putting my trailer hitch wires on but can't be sure; that would track with about the time the noise started.

 

[ATLien]

I had to look straight back from that panel toward the back, this cable and harness was dangling straight up and down almost all the way back at the taillight. I spotted it with a small flashlight pointed toward the tail in that opening and just sticking my arm in there and feeling around. It was probably dangling 10-15 inches behind where I am holding it in those pictures. I suspect it might've been something the dealer did when putting my trailer hitch wires on but can't be sure; that would track with about the time the noise started.

Thanks! I'll see if I can look further back.

 

[Fordmancharlotte99]

I recently purchased a 2021 Ford Bronco Big Bend and was immediately faced with this metal-on-metal rattle. Video included.

This would occur - with or without the hard top on - when riding over potholes, manhole covers, speed bumps, cracks in the road, and, I would bet, pennies. I'll preface this by saying that my Bronco has numerous mods including 20 in wheels on 37 in. tires with large neg offset. See picture.

The spare wheel/tire combo weights 125 lbs. The first thing I did was remove the spare and drive around (same potholes, speed bumps, cracks, and pennies). The rattle was completely gone. My first solution was to install the Rough Country tailgate reinforcement (and relocation) bracket. This did nothing for the sound, but is probably a good thing to do given the weight of the spare. See picture.

The next thing I did was spray 1/2 can of lithium grease in every nook and cranny in the tailgate (as some suggested). This did nothing for the sound. The last thing I did was extend the tailgate bump stops using wooden dowel rods. This removed 99% of the sound. I now only hear the sound when I hit decent size bumps while turning (typically 90 degree turns in town). My guess is that I fixed the problem when the Bronco goes up and down, but not when the chassis experiences torque.

Due to the wheel offset, I needed my spare tire bump stop to extend 5.5 inches. I couldn't find anything available online so cut a 1 in. diameter dowel rod, notched a small recess in the end to accommodate the screw head, lubed it with dish soap, and inserted it firmly into the stock bump stops. I then wrapped it in Flex Tape (the leftover as-seen-on-TV tape that didn't fix my garden hose) to hopefully slow the wood rot process. See picture.

I was obsessed with fixing this noise. My last step was going to be installing the spare tire delete kit which my wife (thankfully) would not let me do. There are other creaks and squeaks that come with having a removable hard top, but these are all easily fixed by installing the JL Audio Stealthbox (10' subwoofer). Hopefully this helps another neurotic Bronco owner.

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