I have a strange noise coming from the rear of my 93 4runner. It sounds like two heavy metals scraping and rattling against one another. It began after I drove down and then back up a steep, rocky (100') embankment this weekend. I'm wondering if it is possible to dislodge something on the frame or axle while doing this. Any suggestions?

 

impossible to tell without looking. Heat Shields is possible for part of it.

 

My first suspect would be the exhaust system. Its not rigidly bolted down after all. Maybe you either bent a pipe or ripped a rubber hanger. The catalytic convertor would be the first exhaust component to check. Its heavy enough to begin with, and the heat shield they put on cats is pretty substantial.