99 e250 ext cargo 270k

every time i stop theres a rattling sound like theres marbles in the exhaust. nothing seems loose, hit the cat with a hammer and cant hear anything loose in there. something is making it rattle.

anyone else have this problem or like it?

its getting very annoying and people are giving me the stink eye.

 

Check all your exhaust system mounting points first. Has to be something loose or rusted apart, perhaps one of the heat shields? Despite our '92 and up vans having great factory exhaust systems I've seen more than a few of those heat shields make that racket---sometimes a band clamp around the offending part can tame it quickly.

HTH

 

My 02 5.4 had at least 3 different rattles when i got it. After lots of trouble free (OEM) Ford van exhausts, i was blown away that mine was making such an awful racket. I found, literally, 3 places underneath where i had a bolt missing, a heat shield loose, or a tab broken off. Cinched em all up and mine is quiet, but still surprised i had 3 seperate problems.

 

You have 2 preconverters, 2 converters, a resonator, and a muffler, each one has a shield, have fun finding it. LoL

 

+1 on Ford's stock exhaust systems---over three different E250's I've yet to have any rusted through or falling apart. Of course looking at the OEM catalog for replacement sections out of curiosity: WOW! Still, something that lasts this long is probably worth it even if only for the peace of mind.

This ^^ is the most common thing I've found too---those pesky heat shields! On my three different E250's at least one on each van has been loose or rattling somewhere along their lengths and welded attachments. I've tamed most of them as as you say Maples01 is fun, just not a lot!

 

I had my exhaust replaced after I bought it, went louder, if it rattled, you'd not hear it, I sound like a muscle car now.

 

What did you replace it with?

 

I had the exhaust shop build me a flowmaster 40 dual setup, the size of the tip changed the pitch, started with 18"x3" chrome and upgraded to 24"x3 1/2" ss when the chrome rusted.