Front end rattlin'

[porschpow]

I have been noticing the more I ride with the windows open and i hot road imperfections, I would here rattlin in the front end. It sound like a loose kinda rattlin. The only thing I could guess what it could be is ball joints, tie rod end, or bushings (for the front end stabilizer). Since my knowledge of suspensions is limited, I look to the professors of panthers here for help!

[jaywish]

Could be a shock or even sheet metal rattling around. You will need to check it by hand. Well actually with your hands, jack stands and a pry bar.

A friend is helpful, one to pry or shake and the other to look close and see which parts move.

[Piece-it pete]

I always check the sway bar links/bushings first. Particularly the links go bad regularly. Could be anything though.

Pete

[packman]

I would first check the lower shock mounts. There are only a few threads holding the shock to the lower control arm. They're prone to being stripped out. Then I would do as Piece-it-pete said and check the front swaybar bushings. After that, start looking at the tie rod and balljoint boots. Could be a chance that they are split (or missing altogether in my case) and haven't been greased in a while. That will cause rattling as well. When I rebuilt the front end on my CV, all of the rattling went away.


Packman

[purplebomb302]

Missing anti-rattle clips from the brake pads? I had a similar problem on the Mark VII I used to have. I forgot to put them in when I put new pads on.

[GM_Guy]

Another rattle source, is the dust shields for the disc brakes if you have the metal ones. Just break it off if its loose, ain't gonna make a bit difference.

Alex.

[PICKUP6772]

Does the noise go away when you apply the brakes? A very common problem is the brake pad/caliper pins. They wear out where they go through the outer pad, causing the pad to move around hitting the pins, and making the rattling sound. At this point, the pad hole is usually worn out too. I would start with pads, and pins, and go from there.


MIKE

[87gtVIC]

I had a front end rattle that wound up being the body mount bushings were so shot underneath the passengers side front foot well. I would hit a bump and the car would be bouncing off the frame because of the deteriorated rubber.

Hopefully that is not your problem as all of the other suggestions are way easier to do.

[grandpaslincoln]

I'd definitely jack the car up and take the weight off of the front end, then start wiggling stuff and prying up on things. My guess would also be broken bolts in the lower shock mount. It's a common problem, someone in the past had replaced the bolts on the drivers side shock on my Lincoln at some point, for exactly that reason.

[porschpow]

The bottom shock mount bolts are tight, I guess I will go after the sway bar bushings (and links, im guessing the links are the bolts)

[sly]

those uber long bolts with rubber bushings on either end and nuts holding them on... that's the links.

[porschpow]

ok, cool, i know exactly what you mean, Yeah I will inspect the rubber on those links