# Something fell off my car .... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 4, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475 "2010-07-04T01:43:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/1 "2010-07-04T01:43:10Z")
… and the rattling noise stopped. I was on my way to town thinking I’d better stop by the mechanic since that rattle sounded worse. We’ve looked under the car for it, nothing initially seemed amiss, it really sounded like something rattling around in the trunk but it wasn’t. Anyway driving slowly along there’s an almighty clunk and something fell off. I stopped along with the car behind me. The driver said something fell onto the road, a rubber thing, a brick like thing … we searched the hard shoulder and found nothing. Helpful driver shrugs and drives off. The police pull up and suggest it was possibly a stone, so I drive off and hey the rattling has stopped. Further up the road I’m flagged down by the helpful driver, she points back along the road and says that object just fell off **her** car. It’s a heavy metal cylinder with the remains of a bit of rubber on each end, about six inches long and two wide. My mechanic wasn’t home, so I took it to a couple of parts shops. Nobody knows what the hell it is or why it’s hitchhiking its way to town. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/2 "2010-07-04T01:58:25Z")
I’m confused, did the object you found fall off her car just now, or was she saying that a similar object fell off her car at some point in the past? Also, a random rattle sometimes turns out to be a rusted out heat shield or broken exhaust hanger. WRT to the mystery object, can you upload a picture? ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/3 "2010-07-04T02:08:39Z")
I’m confused too. She saw an object fall off my car and described it as “brick like” - so not small, but we couldn’t find it, then down the road this cylinder shaped metal thing, solid and heavy fell off her car. Did it fall off mine and then bounce up and get lodged in hers? I’ll try to upload a picture - don’t know where to though so it may take some time … ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/4 "2010-07-04T02:10:11Z")
Photobucket is free and easy. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/5 "2010-07-04T02:14:51Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > I’m confused too. She saw an object fall off my car and described it as “brick like” - so not small, but we couldn’t find it, then down the road this cylinder shaped metal thing, solid and heavy fell off her car. Did it fall off mine and then bounce up and get lodged in hers? > > I’ll try to upload a picture - don’t know where to though so it may take some time … I understand the first part, but this random stranger flagged you down to tell you something just fell off her car? Why would she do that? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/6 "2010-07-04T02:18:29Z")
I’m interested to see the picture. I’m trying to think of things that you could lose, that are that big and wouldn’t affect your ability to drive the car. I’m thinking it’s got to be part of the frame or a mount for something. Was it shiny? Rusty? Greasy? Dry? Hot? Any holes in it (like for bolts)? Did it look broken or in tact? The cylinder part of a strut sort of fits what you’re saying, but I’m pretty sure if the shock/strut assembly fell apart to that extent, there’d be a noticeably difference in it’s handling. Maybe part of an anti-sway bar? ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/7 "2010-07-04T02:25:43Z")
Shit, there goes the tracking device. Time for Plan B. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/8 "2010-07-04T02:27:31Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I understand the first part, but this random stranger flagged you down to tell you something just fell off her car? Why would she do that? Because she thought it was the same object that had fallen off mine. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/9 "2010-07-04T02:31:55Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I’m interested to see the picture. I’m trying to think of things that you could lose, that are that big and wouldn’t affect your ability to drive the car. I’m thinking it’s got to be part of the frame or a mount for something. Was it shiny? Rusty? Greasy? Dry? Hot? Any holes in it (like for bolts)? Did it look broken or in tact? > > The cylinder part of a strut sort of fits what you’re saying, but I’m pretty sure if the shock/strut assembly fell apart to that extent, there’d be a noticeably difference in it’s handling. > > Maybe part of an anti-sway bar? Handling remained the same, just the lack of clattering noise, it was not hot, or even warm, imagine a toilet roll tube only solid metal - no holes, nothing to attach with, traces of rubber on both ends, not greasy, not rusty, intact, a few shiny marks, maybe where it hit the road. I’m driving a Suzuki Samurai jeep. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/10 "2010-07-04T02:32:56Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Photobucket is free and easy. Bear with me. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/11 "2010-07-04T02:41:28Z")
[![](https://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx150/BamBooGut/Obscure%20Object/Objectfallenoffjeep.jpg) ](https://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx150/BamBooGut/Obscure%20Object/Objectfallenoffjeep.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/12 "2010-07-04T02:44:20Z")
The link is bad, what you linked to is not a car part. Go to your album, under the picture will be several links, cut and paste the one that says “direct link” ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/13 "2010-07-04T02:53:39Z")
[http://s750.photobucket.com/albums/xx150/BamBooGut/Obscure%20Object/?action=view¤t=Objectfallenoffjeep2.jpg](http://s750.photobucket.com/albums/xx150/BamBooGut/Obscure%20Object/?action=view¤t=Objectfallenoffjeep2.jpg) [http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx150/BamBooGut/Obscure%20Object/Objectfallenoffjeep2.jpg](http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx150/BamBooGut/Obscure%20Object/Objectfallenoffjeep2.jpg) Any better? ---
**Author:** ![CWN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/14 "2010-07-04T02:53:57Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > Handling remained the same, just the lack of clattering noise, it was not hot, or even warm, \*\*imagine a toilet roll tube only solid \*\*metal - no holes, nothing to attach with, traces of rubber on both ends, not greasy, not rusty, intact, a few shiny marks, maybe where it hit the road. I’m driving a Suzuki Samurai jeep. That part sounds like a shock absorber but there should be bolt holes on both ends on viewing the photo- l have no idea ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/15 "2010-07-04T02:56:59Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > The link is bad, what you linked to is not a car part. > > Go to your album, under the picture will be several links, cut and paste the one that says “direct link” I’m holding it. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/16 "2010-07-04T02:59:01Z")
> [@Amp](#): > > Shit, there goes the tracking device. Time for Plan B. So I’m back to this theory. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/17 "2010-07-04T03:01:14Z")
Hmmmm, I’m thinking it’s not a car part. Just a random thing that bounced off the road and hit your car and in the process stopped the rattling which may have just been a loose heat shield. If you’re bored (and don’t want to wait for Rick or Gary to chime in ) you could go take a look under your car along the exhaust system and check for any loose/missing/damaged/rusted heat shields that could have been making the rattling sound. They’ll just be thin pieces of metal around hot parts that are designed to keep you from burning yourself by getting to close the exhaust pipe. A chunk of metal like that would probably have left a dent in a heat shield if it hit it that hard. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/18 "2010-07-04T03:09:36Z")
Thanks Joey P, so far no one has recognized it as a car part, it’s too dark now to go ferreting around under there, but I’ll act on your advice in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/19 "2010-07-04T09:50:21Z")
It looks like an old artillery shell. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475/20 "2010-07-04T18:44:29Z")
Well, bugger me - it IS off the car. There’s a sort of toilet roll holder thing bolted onto the top of the drive shaft (?) at the back before the back axle (?) sorry I’m no mechanic … I can’t for the life of me see what its purpose might be. Sorry, the only camera I have right now is the computer. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-fell-off-my-car/545475.md?page=2)