Front end rattle

[632 Regal]

Thought for sure it would be the sway bar link coming loose as it is getting progressively worse. No deal, all tight.

Ball joint? I know they all need to be replaced and then I think of checking the top strut bolt, might be loose.

Popped the cap and see this, note the gap:



Have not been into strut mount world in a long time, could this just be the top mount being worn or does the lower part of the mount wear also?

[shogun]

There are quite a number of parts which could cause that noise, have a look here http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part...BMW-535i&mg=31
that even includes the plastic spring pad.
I would remove the shock and check the parts and then order, after you have inspected each item

[632 Regal]

Spring pads look intact, both sides top and bottom. I remember having this 'gap' issue on Nikka but forgot the solution. I could probably hit that top washer with a sledge hammer as a temporary fix but don't remember if that top washers rubber wears out. A visual check of the lower part of the top mount looks to be fine, no wear or cracks. The other side also has some play (air gap) but not as severe. Might try the hammer trick for a quick fix.

[632 Regal]

Today we will check the strut collar nut. Don't know why I failed to think of that.

[632 Regal]

Got a half turn out of it with no change in the rattle. Something is seriously loose down there... somewhere.

[632 Regal]

Refreshers:

http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/showt...light=bilstein

http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/showt...light=bilstein

Spending a lot of time with this, I know I have the solution somewhere...

Equnox is new struts... Doubt that is the problem but who knows.

[Javier]

Jeff, I don't think this gap is normal. In fact. if you pull up the car you will notice it closes down, so it means there is an non damped (no strut operation) movement up and down in the front end. The higher the gap, the worst the rattle. It is a general recommendation to replace the strut mounts when replacing struts. I do not normally follow it for economical reasons, but my first strut change in the rear end, ended with a heavy rattling shortly after replacing the struts, and only ended when ordered and replaced the mounts. My E34 front end struts also got his first and only change without changing mounts, and also have a gap now, wider in the right side, but yours is quite more significant.

[632 Regal]

I smashed the top washer so it is now tight but the rattle/klunking stayed the same. Today my son hung out the window on a gravel road and said the tire is going in and out like some steering parts are loose. When I checked it on ramps everything 'seemed' tight. I will check again though. Also it still makes the noise even with the braked applied, which in my eyes says the ball joints are not the culprit. I am unable to rebuild the entire front end at this time but will have to if I can't figure this out.

This one really has me baffled so far.

[shogun]

Did you check the lug bolts on the wheel? Are they tightened?

[632 Regal]

Did you check the lug bolts on the wheel? Are they tightened?

Re-torqued every time I took it off, 5 times now.