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Thread: front end "rattle" noise ....

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
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    VT
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    73

    Default front end "rattle" noise ....

    so I put in new control arms which took care of the shaking. I did the lower ones last year.Now I still get a kind of rattle from the front end when I drive on rough surfaces. What could that be? Wheel bearings, but it's not a grinding noise? I have close to 100K on the car.

    Thanks .......
    Last edited by fsteyer; 09-02-2007 at 08:32 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    Albuquerque, NM
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    Default

    Have you checked the swaybar links? If not that, then it could be the pads rattling in the caliper:



    My son's e34 has noticable wear and corrosion/pitting on his calipers where the ends of the pads register. I felt quite a bit of slop up & down when putting in new pads & rotors a couple weeks ago. His has the same rattle you describe and it sounds like it's coming from right at the wheel. His upper strut bearing/mounts and sway bar links are tight. Loose pads are the only other thing I can think of.

    I'm not quite sure how to remedie it other than getting new calipers and/or a different brand pad. Easy enough to check by temporarily sliding a shim in there and seeing if the rattle goes away.
    Last edited by gale; 09-02-2007 at 10:07 AM.
    gale
    92 735i 5-spd, turbo project finally underway!


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Montreal
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    Default

    I have a leaking front shock, that causes the same rattle you are describing on my car.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
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    18

    Default

    it could even be bad sway bar bushings.....
    Jon M
    '88 E34 535i 5spd
    Iceland

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
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    VT
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    Default

    Thank you for the reply, I'll check it out ..... it's more like a clunk when I hit a pothole or other unevenness in the road. It's difficult to explain ....... are there any other bushings or such in the wheel area other than the ones I already replaced? (upper and lower arms)
    thanks again ........

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Eastern Tennessee USi
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    14,839

    Default

    a clunk could be the strut collar being loose.

    Quote Originally Posted by fsteyer
    Thank you for the reply, I'll check it out ..... it's more like a clunk when I hit a pothole or other unevenness in the road. It's difficult to explain ....... are there any other bushings or such in the wheel area other than the ones I already replaced? (upper and lower arms)
    thanks again ........
    95 E34 530I V2.37
    ===========
    Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

    John F. Kennedy

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