I have a '96 Disco. When I drive her there's a clicking/rattling sound from under her. The sounds stop when I press the brakes, but then starts again when I let go. I couldn't find a post with this specific issue.

This doesn't seem to impact her performance, it's just a bit irritating. It's like a cat with a bell on her collar. Everyone hears me coming.

Has anyone had this happen?

 

If it goes away when you apply the brakes I'd start checking there.
Could be a brake pad had separated from the backing plate and is rattling around. When you apply the brakes its squeezed together and doesn't rattle. I had this happen on my van. Otherwise check the caliper bolts, brake pad hardware, and the mud shields.
After verifying all that check your tie rod ends and bushings, though these shouldn't be brake dependant.

 

Thx, fishEH!

 

Could be a loose exhaust shield, cracked flex plate, failing cat or any loose trim piece.

 

True, it could be anything like that. But because he said it goes away when he applies the brakes I'd start there.
Some more information would be helpful too. Like does the rattle go away when the brakes are lightly applied, or only when you brake hard?
If it goes away when LIGHT braking I'd keep checking the brakes. If it only goes away when heavy braking it could be being silenced by the nose of the truck diving and reseating a loose part. Most likely a tie rod end or possibly even a front shock.
Does it rattle when accelerating AND coasting?
Start by checking the brakes. Then grab every bar you can find under the truck and push/pull up/down to check for movement that shouldn't be there. Check the bushings on the shocks, too.

 

I would look at your brake pads and breaking performance. I had a similar problem on another vehicle and found it was the break padsjumpoing up and down in the slots provided. After a resurface and new pads it was gone.

I have slotted and drilled rotors on my Disco and it makes a whiffing/rattle noise common with slotted and drilled rotors.

 

One more thing is our lug nut covers rattle too.

 

Wow - thanks everyone for chiming in. These are all great leads to follow.

@fishEH - the additional info: The rattle/click-clack noise goes away if I barely touch the brakes (or if I press hard). The noise is there at every speed, but if I'm going above 40 mph then the sound fades away (but probably because increased noise level of wind/engine/etc). I've had the brakes looked at by mechanic and oil change stations and none have seen the culprit, but I sense they probably didn't know the subtleties of the Disco!

If I share the above info, I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it.

Thanks again everyone,
c

 

Mr. FishEh is right you have a brake pad jinglin around somewhere. Could be because the caliper is getting worn or the pad wasnt bedded in peoperly and is just sitting in between the rotoe a caliper piston. They make some soft like stuff you can put on the back of the pads to get them to stay on the caliper when you let off the brake but I cant remember the name.