front end rattle? wtf is it?

**allbaugh_04** · 08-11-2008, 05:06 PM

I know with any car a rattle can be coming from anywhere, but every little bump i get a pretty loud rattle coming from the front end. I think it might be on both sides of the car, i can't tell. It handles fine, just wondering if anyone had a similar problem. I could save some money and do it myself.

Talked to a guy today at shop and he said tie rods don't make a rattle when they go bad. I thought thats what it might be. I just don't want to pay out the ass for a mechanic to do something i could of fixed myself. I just don't know what it is...

Might have to get it on a lift and tugging on random shit to see if it's loose.

**JoshieDoom** · 08-11-2008, 05:16 PM

Ive got the same thing. Sounds like a large chunk of metal in a foam lined contained being chucked around. Happens when I go over railroad tracks.

**SS/CETA** · 08-11-2008, 06:15 PM

It could be that your sway bar bolt bushings have worn out and it's the bolt that's rattling when you hit the bumps. I don't know if it applies to an f-body, but this was the cause of my mystery noise in my Impala.

**allbaugh_04** · 08-11-2008, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by SS/CETA

It could be that your sway bar bolt bushings have worn out and it's the bolt that's rattling when you hit the bumps. I don't know if it applies to an f-body, but this was the cause of my mystery noise in my Impala.

I'll be sure to check that out

**VtBandit** · 08-14-2008, 12:58 PM

I have heard that the bushings at the bottom of the shock wear out also...just heard that the other day...

**JAGUAR5822** · 08-25-2008, 08:41 AM

I had one once, pretty much all of the suspension stuff up there was new and I couldn't figure it out. Finally I found out it was the steering rack, just a little bit loose, and only made the noise sometimes. If yours is loose, I recommend loc-tite, mine came loose again after I tightened it the first time, no more issues after I used loc-tite =)

**allbaugh_04** · 08-25-2008, 04:20 PM

idk if i wanna use lock tight but i'll check it out for sure. i still haven't gotten to this. my baby has been sitting a lot lately

**krazykarl454** · 09-04-2008, 07:55 PM

i had this problem with mine. it kinda sounds like a worn sway bar end link but it wasn't. turned out it was the upper strut mount. and it only made noises when i hit a bump, and it was a real bitch to find , thought i was goin nuts b/c everythnig under the car was tight. http://www.ecklerscamaro.com/product...s-_-721017-_-X

**allbaugh_04** · 09-04-2008, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by krazykarl454

i had this problem with mine. it kinda sounds like a worn sway bar end link but it wasn't. turned out it was the upper strut mount. and it only made noises when i hit a bump, and it was a real bitch to find , thought i was goin nuts b/c everythnig under the car was tight. http://www.ecklerscamaro.com/product...s-_-721017-_-X

those were replaced last summer

**krazykarl454** · 09-17-2008, 04:41 AM

hmmm.... i dunno man. you find anything over the last few days?

**VtBandit** · 09-17-2008, 05:53 AM

I still have mine too. It almost sounds like a spring wound too tight. When i hit a bump it "sproings" against something. The spring isn't broken, so i don't know what could be making it...

**allbaugh_04** · 09-17-2008, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by krazykarl454

hmmm.... i dunno man. you find anything over the last few days?

Well it has gotten worse. I decided to change the oil on base so i could get it on a lift. I tried moving the shocks and various other things.

The only thing i could get to move was what i believe is the tie rod.

It's a rod that connects the wheel something in the center of the car. I am sorry, but i am no mechanic. The end that moves has that boot around it and connects to something near the center of the car.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...y/tie-rod2.jpg

only one of them i could move. when i moved it, it seemed a tad loose. the other one wouldn't move at all.

i honestly don't drive the car that much, so it's the only reason i haven't fixed it yet. i could just take it somewhere and have them look at it. wish i could find out what it is myself though

i tried pulling or shaking other things that i thought could create rattle...i'm puzzled besides this tie rod thing, that could be it i guess

**allbaugh_04** · 09-17-2008, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by JAGUAR5822

I had one once, pretty much all of the suspension stuff up there was new and I couldn't figure it out. Finally I found out it was the steering rack, just a little bit loose, and only made the noise sometimes. If yours is loose, I recommend loc-tite, mine came loose again after I tightened it the first time, no more issues after I used loc-tite =)

maybe it is the steering rack...

**JAGUAR5822** · 09-17-2008, 08:45 AM

You can try tightening it, there are only a couple bolts holding the rack onto the car, but it might be that tie rod if you can move one but not the other, I'm not very experienced with the steering system. Which direction could you move it in? This pic should help you describe it.

**allbaugh_04** · 09-17-2008, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by JAGUAR5822

You can try tightening it, there are only a couple bolts holding the rack onto the car, but it might be that tie rod if you can move one but not the other, I'm not very experienced with the steering system. Which direction could you move it in? This pic should help you describe it.

Well this is last week, but i believe i grabbed onto the boot itself and shook it forward and rearward, but i am sure that part of it is loose or bad, worn. I am not sure. It was the drivers side boot.

The rattle usually is heard outside the passenger window, and occasionally the driver side. Maybe depending on where the bump is in the road. It doesn't have to be much of a bump to make it rattle either.

**nvusone** · 09-17-2008, 09:36 AM

i might just be seeing things.... but it looks broken
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/tie-rod2.jpg

**allbaugh_04** · 09-17-2008, 12:50 PM

no, that was just some pic i found to highlight the boot i was talking about

**JAGUAR5822** · 09-17-2008, 12:53 PM

I thought that looked like a truck lol.

**nvusone** · 09-17-2008, 12:57 PM

lol... i knew it wasnt a camaro or firebird...was that noise still there after you replaced the strut bushings or did it recently start?

**allbaugh_04** · 09-17-2008, 01:06 PM

it started last summer, but only did it over terrible ruts, harldy noticed it unless i was going over a bridge where the sound would reflect back into the vehicle. it slowly has gotten worse...(more annoying)

so no, it did it before that....before the strut mounts were replaced.