This morning I replaced the sway bar links and bushings thinking it would resolve the issue, but no luck. here is the best video of the sound i could get. I also got up under and tried to tighten anything loose but everything was as solid as could be. any ideas?

Rattle Video

 

Almost sounds like the brake pads are rattling...just a guess...hard to hear clearly.

 

Interesting suggestion. I was thinking about replacing my brakes tomorrow anyhow, so we will see what happens afterwards. About the video quality, yeah its hard to avoid wind noise. I'll bite the bullet, act as a turd, and buy a selfie stick if I have to, to help me out with a better vid.

 

If it's a constant issue at all speeds, grab a friend. Drive slowly around and over things and have them walk beside and in front help find the general location. Put one wheel on the curb...did that do it? Do the other. Does it happen more on turning? Which direction?

Driving around a small space slowly will help you narrow it down. A friend will help more. Then jack it up and shake everything till you find it.

 

If it is a clear rattle as the rear axle passes over a bump, I'd bet money on it being your leaf spring rebound clips.

Mine rattle all the time, and have for 10+ years. No big deal. Wrapping a zip tie around the top of the clip to take up some of the vertical play helps for awhile.

 

it sounds like its coming from the front, but, i wont rule anything out. Ill give it a check.

 

I had a similar rattle. Banged around with a rubber mallet for hours before I discovered it was the brake calipers (after somebody on here suggested it) - the bolts into the knuckle weren't even finger tight.

 

Well, I'm replacing the brake pads, calipers, and rotors today, so maybe that will eliminate it.

 

Ok this is weird, but I have it solved.

I went today to simply get the brake pads replaced and come to find out, not one but both of my calipers were doing something weird. Only the inside pad was being pushed against the rotor when braking. the insides were both worn down to metal and the outside pads were both untouched. The rattling ended up being the metal pads rattling because it had grinded so much that it crack both calipers. What in the world could have caused that? Is it simply coincidental or is there something that needs to be adjusted? I'm not familiar with brakes at this point so I literally have no idea what would cause it. I've only had this XJ a few months so I have no idea what the previous owner did to it. Anyway, I went ahead and replaced all pads, rotors, and calipers, and the sound is gone. $580 later but its gone. Whew.

 

It could be a groove in the caliper bracket where the pads rest. It could be a frozen caliper. It could be stuck slide pins.