I've recently started hearing a faint metallic rattling sound when I take my foot off the throttle of our '95 X300 VDP while in the forward gears at or above around 25 or 30 MPH.

The sound itself is like a metallic version of the sound we used to get by putting playing cards in our bicycle spokes to make them "sound like motorcycles".

When I take my foot off the throttle in Drive (or 2, 3 or D), the (faint) rattling starts. When I put even the slightest pressure back on the pedal, the rattling disappears.
If I put the pressure back on the throttle but shifted into Neutral, the rattling continues so it seems that whatever it is, is only stopped by putting the whole drive train under even a slight load.

The rhythm of the rattling sound does not speed up or slow down with the speed of the car.

Now that I'm aware of the sound, I can't stop hearing it so I'm not certain if it's getting louder or if I'm just more acutely aware of it.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance,
Rhett

 

I'd check the exhaust hangers...but, have a friend listen to it outside the car while you drive it slowly on a quiet street to get an idea of where it might be coming from. I've done that and it worked

 

A long shot, but check out your exhaust heat shields. These can crack, without breaking off and then flap in the wind. The rate of flap ( not a technical term) will rise and fall with the speed of the car and so the sound will become more or less obvious. Worth a look see and always worth checking out the simple stuff first.

 

I'd change Tranny fluid
Differ fluid and bearing

 

My money's on the exhaust heat shields as well


Cheers
DD

 

It was a warped rubber drive shaft coupling that was causing the sound like cards in spokes of a wheel. They only charged me 1 hour labor to diagnose and repair it.

 

Thanks for the update. The more information available always helps in diagnosis. I would never have thought of that particular cause as being at the root of your problem.
Happy motoring.

 

Our mechanic was surprised as well.