To all those who have been suffering with rattly aev tire carriers don't fret. I've read like 6 different things on tricks to adjust them so they don't rattle, and I would try them to no avail. I was at my wits end and this weekend was going to be my last ditch afford before I started saving for something new. After putting some of the troubleshooting together from multiple threads and multiple websites, I finally got it rattly free and it's amazing (after over a year and a half of owning it. Here are my steps

Step 1: remove the tire

Step 2: on the connector between the tire carrier and the tailgate of the jeep, loosen the two outer bolts

Step 3: unbolt and remove all of the washers from long bolt connecting the connector to the tire carrier

Step 4: clean and grease all 10 washers, the bolt, and the nut.

Step 5: reatach this Bolt ENSURING you follow the installation instructions which said to threat the bolt up from the bottom and place the nut on the top rather than threading to bolt down from the top (which is more convinient) I believe this piece is the cause for a majority of the rattle because if you don't follow it is harder to fully tighten it

Step 6: tighten the grade 8 bolt which holds the piece you put the tire on so that when you place the tire on the 3 prongs...so little of the prong is showing that you are unsure if the lug not will be able to catch the threads on the prong. Hand tighten each of the 3 lugs then starting with the top lug give it 2 full turns, then continue clockwise to each bolt 2 turns each until you cannot possibly tighten them any further. It should be so tight that you can see your spare tire drawn in some to the light pillar of the tire carrier.

Step 7: with the tire re-installed, adjust the connecting piece mentioned in step 2 by tuning the center bolt. Adjust it so that when closing the tailgate, the carrier is fully recessed in the receiver on the tailgate before the tailgate is fully closed (with 2-3 inches left to close the tailgate). You should feel tension wen closing the tailgate now. Once properly adjusted, fully tighten both bolts loosened in step 2.

It take time, it take patience, it took my about an hr and a half (mostly because constantly taking my 37 inch tire on and off while adjusting the grade 8 bolt was a pain in the ass, and all my washers were pretty dirty). The carrier is great when properly adjust and installed it just takes some love. Wranglers are rattle traps but if you have this carrier and know the rattles I'm talking about...than it probably driver you to the poor of feeling like your great jeep was falling apart and got you to question whether you should keep it. Be diligent take the time and properly adjust your carrier, you'll be happy you did

 

Did it center it as well?

 

Did the tire center in the rear of the jeep? No, the AEV carrier is designed to hold up to a 40 inch tire, it's off center on purpose

 

Thank you so much for this write up, i've only had mine for a 2 months with a 37 back there as well and its killing me!! i will do this next weekend.

 

I don't understand this. I have installed three of these and just followed the instructions and they have all been perfect.

Sounds like the bolt that holds the washers on was not tight or the tension bolt was too lose causing some movement.

Glad you fixed it. Maybe the grease you put on the washers is keeping them from rattling. I have never heard this suggestion before.

 

How bad was your rattle? Mine does a little when I shut the tailgate.

Thoughts....

 

As I said I think it was largely the bolt being but tup to bottom instead of bottom to top making it harder to tighten (I didn't install it I paid to have it installed) and also reaaaaally really adjusting the carrier so like I said the carrier is fully in contact w the receiver before the tailgate is completely shit...I don't think it was the wd40 I do think it helped really cleaning all of the hardware though

 

I suspect it's harder for us 37 inch tire guys to adjust it. For instance they say it fits a 37 but the grade 8 bolt they provided to keep the carrier in placed( the part that slide in and out to fit larger or smaller tires) wasn't long enough to use w a 37 inch tire on stock jk wheels so I had to buy new bolts

 

Mine started a a tailgate rattle and got progressively wore, if you don't have it properly adjusted and tightened everything wil continue to get looser

 

So I looked at mine and the installer put the bolt in from top down instead of bottom up. And I thought I was taking it to an AEV preferred dealership....