Rav 4 Rattling Noise Underneath At Rear

[Louiseb]

I have a 57 toyota rav 4 I have for a few months there is a rattling noise coming from the rear underneath .

I had a look underneath for anything loose and there is a bolt/bar next to the rear spring ther is one on either side but the drivers side one has came loose and is only attatched at one end and rattling around.

Could anyone tell me what this is so I can replace it and if it is an easy fix ? Thanks

[Mike169]

It'll probably be the heat shield on the exhaust. If you can remove the bolts without snapping them then just fit bigger repair washers, if the bolts snap then just leave the heat shield off and throw it away, been done many times by Rav owners, common fault/repair.

Regards.

[Grumpy stumpy]

Drop link by sound of your discription, small ball joint either end with rod in middle, cheap enough around £15.00 easy to fit but a bit harder to remove, normally need cutting to get old one off as will probably just turn and not undo. Hopefully shown in picture.

[Louiseb]

Thanks very much for that I appreciate it, yeah it does look like it's the droplink.

I have never done anything like this before but I am going to give it a try. Any chance of a step by step guide.

Kind regards

Louise

[Grumpy stumpy]

You really need two jacks or support the weight of the rear disc. jack up , remove wheel, then support the weight of the disc, suspension etc. The drop link has two ball joint type ends with a lock nut and in the middle is a Allen key slot. If you are lucky you can just undo the lock nut but most times the whole thing turns so you can use a Allen key to hold the centre thread whilst undoing the nut but these normally round off so you end up cutting them off with angle grinder, if this happens be careful not to cut the rubber brake pipe near by.once both ends undone remove it and refit new one, a new one will be easier to refit as stiff. You may need to lift disc,suspension up or down to line up holes, refit wheel job done. You can get these from any car parts supplier cheaper than Toyota and around £15 each side. Yours being a 2007 may only have one ball joint type end and a straight other end with a couple of rubber bushes, not sure as mine is a 2004 , yours may be easier to replace but do it the same way and should be ok .Hope some help.

[Avalon]

If it's a drop link the general rule is what you do to one side, you do to the other. Also cheap drop links are a false economy, after doing a few sets on German cars I always spec'd Meyle HD's as they were over engineered and lasted much better.

[Louiseb]

Thanks for the reply grumpy stumpy is there any specific tools I need ie size of spanner, 2 jacks? Will I jack both sides up together? Thanks

[Louiseb]

Thanks for the advice Avalon

[Grumpy stumpy]

Hi Louise, you only need to jack one side up , the reason I said two jacks was one jack will hold the car up while the other you could use to jack the suspension up on the same side to align the drop link up but can be done with one jack. Not too sure what size spanners you need as a while since I done one but at a guess 17 or 19 mm for lock nut and 5 or 6 mm Allen key. I believe on yours there is a flat edge on the shaft/rod of the drop link where you could use a spanner to hold whilst un doing the bottom nut. Would probably undo the bottom nut first as easier then tackle the top nightmare one. 10 minute job if all goes well pity not closer to you would offer to do for you . If you get the new drop link first before you do anything you then can see what size tools you need.

Phil.

[Louiseb]

Hi Phil

Thanks very much sorry for the late reply. Going to give it a go this weekend

Thanks again for your help

Louise

[Grumpy stumpy]

No worries hope you get on ok Louise, let us know how it goes.