Do shocks rattle when they go bad?
 

I had my wife push up and down on the back of the car today because I got a rattle. I thought maybe I did something wrong with the gear install but now I'm leaning toward the left rear shock. I know it's bad because theres fluid all over it. It seems to rattle when I go over bumps more so now then it did before the gear swap. Think it might be from having it fully extended for the 2 weeks it was jacked up in the air. I was real worried the other night cause it did it when it downshifted. It's the same sound though. What do you think?

Thanks, James

Indeed...
 

It's entirely possible that it's shot. The shock is what holds the rear up when it's at full droop. So if you had the axle hanging for two weeks you might have pushed your borderline shock over the edge. They are cheap enough anyway, I'd replace it.

Bob