When I hit small bumps in my 98 Dodge Dakota it makes a clunking metal sound from the rear sounding like cookie pans smacking together. I know its not the muffler because I have already replaced that. It might be the sway bar or the struts but I don't think it is the struts because it rattles. It comes between the cab and the tailgate. Any ideas?

I'm thinking it might be one of the following: Catalytic Converter broken inside loose and rattling, Sway bar Bushings, or the heat plates loose.

I'm going to straight pipe my Cata this weekend and see if that fixes the problem.

 

Heat shield loose.

Sway bar links would be squeaking, shocks would be squeaking and back end flopping all over the place.