legacycentral bbs

Hey, I'm having a heck of a time locating a suspension rattle and I wanted to see if you guys had any ideas. On rough pavement it gives a vibration like a worn swaybar bushing with some metal to metal. Its NOT a clunk on speedbumps(that was the ball joint and tie rod). It is slowly getting worse. Sounds like something is loose, getting looser. Or worn, getting worn-er. I have done the following:

Located at front right corner:

replaced all swaybar bushings
replaced front ball joints
replaced front right tie rod
inspection for tightness on all bolts

Is there anything left besides the strut?? Thanks.

Checked the top nut where the strut goes through the top hat? Do you have any spherical bearings on the car?

I should have mentioned that this is my 91 Wagon.

The nut is tight and no to spherical bearings. I'm thinking maybe the shaft of the strut.

I may have found it. I can wiggle my outer brake pad on that side with the tip of my finger. I will work on that and see. Thx Jamal.

Being able to move the pad a a little will probably not make a rattle. the occasional click when you go from forward to reverse maybe. Plus due to the nature of a sliding caliper it's not unusual for the outer one to seem loose.

I like to just take a prybar to everything to see if I can find play.

Don't rule out non-suspension issues. I've had an exhaust that moved alot on it's hangers and when it contacted the body it banged just like you would expect the suspension to.

Press gently on the brakepedal when you have the noise.
It should go away if its only a loose pad..

I put some of that disc brake quiet stuff on the front brakes. Which is basically silicone caulking the pads to the caliper and piston. And that took care the noise. The clips were missing in the front.

Now it sounds and feels as a car with 212K on the suspension should. Oh well, but no more rattle at least.

Glad to hear you got it fixed, always a great feeling.

Ah yes, thanks. It's nice when you can solve those nagging little issues witout spending $$$.