front end rattle

[fsteyer]

Hi:
so far I have replaced the upper control arms and tie rod ends. I still get a rattle from the front end. Which bushings are still left that I can replace?

Thanks for any input .........

[DaveVoorhis]

Stabiliser bar (aka sway bar) links.

[Dave M]

Stabiliser bar (aka sway bar) links.

Yep,

got rid of my rattle

[fsteyer]

great .... thanks I'll order one

[DaveVoorhis]

Why only one? Was only one side worn? They generally should be replaced in pairs, because if one is worn the other is probably not long for this world.

[fsteyer]

I thought it was one continous bar ... but now I see that they are a pair of sway bar links. Thanks for pointing that out to me.

[e34.535i.sport]

I had a terrible front end rattle and i got rid of it by doing all these things:

Lower control arms
Upper control arms
Sway bar links
Tie rod assemblies
Wheel balance + alignment

[fsteyer]

thanks ... what about the center drag link ..... does it haver bushings in it?

[e34.535i.sport]

I'm not familiar witht the term drag link, but the centre tie rod has an idler arm that has a servicable bushing that could cause a rattle - might be worth checking. Jack it up, take the wheel off and look around... you'll see it.

I've never changed one but i hear it is probably more time effective to change the arm rather than messing with the bushing for the difference in price.

[fsteyer]

we're probably talking about the same thing, different names ...
thanks again

[e34.535i.sport]

Same horse... Different Jockey!

[Barney Paull-Edwards]

Drag links do`nt tend to rattle, get somebody to move the steering against a load and watch it, or feel for wobbly steering! The steering relay,from drag link to steering arm is a more likely candidate,drop, lubricate and reassemble.

[fsteyer]

so I replaced it all ... upper,lower control arms, tie rod ends, tie rod, everything that has to do with the steering assembly. I still have a rattle. What am I missing here?
Thanks .........

[DaveVoorhis]

What haven't you replaced in the steering/suspension?

[fsteyer]

shocks, shock mounts, wheel bearings.
thanks

[DaveVoorhis]

Check the shocks and shock mounts, and look for broken springs. Bounce up and down on the bumper at the corners and see if you can re-create the noise. It's unlikely to be wheel bearings. If they were so worn and loose that they were clunking, the wheel would probably have fallen off by now.

[leicesterboy15]

When you say rattle is it just a noise or a shimmy / vibration as well?

[mikell]

Ditto the shocks & shock mounts at this stage - does it rattle all the time, or just when turning, only when going striaght, etc? more datil would help.

[J.DeFeo]

I have a vibration problem that isn't specific to the front of the car; the entire car vibrates when I get up to around 67-69MPH. It can be felt at 50-65 but it doesn't get really noticeable until 67. It happens the most when it is cold. If it is warm out, the vibration almost entirely disappears after driving for a while. I just got brand new tires and had them balanced on a Hunter GSP9700 that showed them all to be perfectly round and without any abnormal road forces (at least according to the tech who worked on my car). I'm having a hell of a time finding any bushings that are particularly in need of service, other than the rear stabilizer bushings. Could they really cause a major vibration (it feels like my car is constantly running over those rumble strips they put in construction zones)? They are a bit cracked but look whole for the most part.

The tires have about 5k miles on them, should I just go back to the shop and bitch and complain until they re-check it?

[fsteyer]

just the right side .... only on rough surface. Otherwise no vibration or pull, either driving straight or breaking.
Thanks ......