Spare Tyre/Tailgate Thud/Shake/Bounce

[adrock82]

Hi guys,

Just got my into first Jeep (2007 JLU diesel) after upsizing from Suzukis, and new to the forum as well.
I'm guessing its a common thing for people to sign up when hunting the answer to a problem - unfortunately I'm no different - sorry!

I've searched around for an answer to this but my issue seems to be a little different to what others have experienced...
I have a bounce/vibration on the tailgate when hitting bumps or dips in the road. It's a pretty loud thud. The tailgate itself seems super solid and when its open I can bounce the entire jeep by pushing down on the tailgate and cannot feel any play there.
The bump stops between tyre and tailgate are also jammed tight, and all the bolts are tight.

With pressure, I can depress the shell of the tailgate with the door handle, so Im wondering if its actually the outer casing of the door itself...
Is it a known issue for the tyre carrier bracket itself to vibrate the shell of the tailgate?

Oh yeh, its only a 265/70 R16 so definitely not huge.

Just trying to figure out if there is a way to eliminate this before I go to rear bar with tyre carrier arm...

Cheers!

[Banshee]

JK tailgate hinges are known to wear & rattle. Is there anything else on the back? In my case, I have a rattle from the back ever bumps, but it is from the UHF antenna spring mount.

If you open the tailgate & try lifting it, does it have any movement? (Maybe take the tyre off first!) That will give you a better indication of wear in the hinges. I suspect it might be bouncing up, then coming down.

Another thought. Does it have a lift fitted? When I got mine 2nd hand, I had a clunk that came from the back through dips or bumps. That one was from a bolt... it was in an ARB track bar relocation bracket, and was way too long! Whoever installed it put in a bolt & didn't look at what it might hit. Practical upshot was that when the suspension moved enough, it caught on the sway bar/ Whan I finally found it, the bolt was bent & there was a groove worn 1/5th of the way through the rear sway bar!

[relwell]

Agree with Banshee above but will chime in because it's early at work and I don't want to work yet.

Had a few TJ's with similar issues. They would seem solid when I pushed or leaned on the tailgate, but would THUNK when driving. The acceleration when you hit a bump is pretty large so duplicating it while sitting may not replicate the conditions enough to get the THUNK. But as above make sure you try lifting up as well as down, as these jeep THUNK's go both ways.

Next I would look at anything aftermarket - bumpers, rails, shocks, etc. Not everyone knows what a torque wrench is and a little wiggle can easily cause a THUNK.

Try driving without the spare and see if you get a THUNK still. Could help narrow it down.

[RLT]

Another avenue to explore !
Got an annoying rattle from behind for a long time on my 2007 JKU

Tail gate seemed solid enough.
Discovered it was the latches on the rear seats.
When folded down no more rattle on uneven roads

[Joe98]

You could remove the spare and see if the sound is still there.

[Banshee]

The other thing to check, would be the guide/locator on the catch side of the tailgate. It is just below the lock mechanism.

If it was loose/worn, that would let the left side of it rattle.

[samft]

if it gets annoying this might be cheaper than a dealer repair...

https://teraflex.com/shop_items/jk-a...e-mounting-kit