Hit a bump and now something rattles!!!!

[TheV6Bird]

Today, I took a turn that I always take. There is a large bump that I always hit. Nothing ever happens. Today, something did.

I took the bump (this bump is on a turn, FYI), I heard a rattling noise. I thought I blew a tire, but I was still in control of the car. This rattling seems to be comming from the cat area.

No SES light, check gauges, etc. Car seems to drive normal. But when I accelarate, rev, or just idle, this rattling is there. I have 96K on my car. Could this be the inside of the cat comming apart? Any tips?

[sped214]

Check the heatshield around the cat. could be loose or rubbing on something??

[fbody4life]

I had rattling in my hatch for a few weeks, then I noticed the jack was loose so I tightened it up and no more noise. :D Worth a shot

[stagen]

Check the hanger that holds the cat up to the support on the tranny x-member. It jsut slides into and rubber housing.

[Justin Kirkham]

If the rattle seems worse during a certain RPM range, then it is probably the cat heat shield. If that is it, you can remove it. If it rattles all the time, then it could be the heat shield, I would reach under the car when it is cold and try to tap it with a ruler or hammer or whatever and check the noise. That is what it was for me.

-Justin

[TheV6Bird]

Well, the problem has seemed to cure itself

I bangend on the cat with a broomstick, and drove it around. Still had that noice. I thought to myself, "If I banged on it to loosen stuff, I'm going to need to get it out." and with that, I floored my car to redline! I guess the junk inside the cat flew out of my exhaust and into the world. Hopefully it will not return.

Still, running over a bump causing that to rattle is a mystery to me