I drive a 97 TJ Sahara 4.0 automatic, recently the last few days a rattle under the drivers side has been coming in and out, but today it happened steadily throughout my drive home from work, feels like it's directly under my feet. It's a short and fast rattle almost ticking like, I feel it mostly when I come to a complete stop at a stop sign red light etc, and only in drive, if shifted into neutral the rattle goes away. I've been doing my research and I've come across many people saying it's the transfer case linkage as its a common problem, how can I figure out if this is truly the issue? Thanks you! This problem is driving me insane

Check heat shield above muffler and cat. converter.

I did that doesn't seem to be it, Any other ideas of what it could be?

My side step has a rattle that's sounds like what you're describing

I don't have a side step.. Finding this rattle will be the death of me it drives me crazy

Drop the skid and see what tool the PO left for you.

Find someone that you trust to sit in the jeep, in drive, foot on the brake. Then stick your head underneath to locate the rattle. Or, find someone you don't really care about, and have them crawl underneath.

Im gonna have to do that, just start shaking everything in side to try and recreate it

Does it do it at idle, or only when you're moving?

I feel it at idle the most

So it shouldn't be too hard to find if you've got someone idling in drive. Hopefully.

Main bearing going bad?

Post a video if you can. Maybe it's also an exhaust gasket or hanger

just took it for a drive around the block and really got on it a few times and felt nothing What so ever as far as that rattle under my feet

Check to see if the boot on the linkage on the transfer case is gone or the linkage is busted. Another way to test would be to out slight upward pressure on the 4wd lever and see if it goes away. On mine the rubber is warn but still in place. Not worrying about it.

My TC linkage is rattling too. What I did was to just crawl under the OllllO and move the TC linkage where it goes into the bracket on the tub. Its the same sound. If it is your linkage then you should be able to feel the vibrations on the driver side of the hump just below the TC shifter. That was a poor design. When I finally get tired of it I am going to install a shift cable instead. But right now it still shifts good.

Also check the transmission mount.
Mine will rattle a bit once it gets up to higher temps.