I would say for at least 6 months now, I have had this really annoying rattle coming from the driver's side of the car. As time has gone on, it has gotten worse and now on the freeway there is a shudder that you can sorta feel in the gas pedal and wheel - in rythim with the rattle. It mostly stops if you gently tap the brakes or when accelerating, but when coasting, its really bad.

I had a dude look at it like 3-4 months ago and he thought it could be the tie rod end or the steering rack. Upon closer inspection, he decided that was the rack. So I got a second opinion and that place could not determine anything for sure - so I mentioned the rack and they messed around and could feel some play - but said as time goes on, it should start leaking. It still doesnt leak, and the noise is still there and somewhat worse.

i know others have had these issues, but usually at slow speeds like here: , so I am wondering if anyone else has this problem at all speeds, and worse over bumps and the faster you go. If so, have you determined the issue?

 

have you checked your bushings? especially the compression rods

 

did you figure out the problem?

 

the compression rods usually squeak when they are going bad.. they were replaced a couple years back. Nothing seems obviously loose or stiff down there like end links, tie rods, control arms, compression rods.. I cant feel any slop in the strut either, although when it has been warmer like 55+, the noise definitely gets less noticable. It'd be nice if it was the sway bar bushing, but that doesnt have any slop either..

 

I had something similar to this. It actually started over a year ago and just started getting worse and worse to the point where I would use lower gears to slow down so I wouldn't have to hit the brakes and hear that noise. Loud annoying rattle, even heard it while braking.

A couple weeks ago I was replaced my two front tires and while the car was jacked up I noticed that the driver side compression rod had some play to it. It sounded similar to the noise I was getting, like a clunk/rattle.

So I replaced my compression rods. The one on the driver side, where the noise was coming from, I inspected after and the ball joint was loose and had a lot of play to it. Although I also replaced the lower ball joints, and LCA bushings, I'm certain it was the compression rod.

Also replaced inner tie rod ends (sp?).

 

Does it rattle/clunk over bumps, or all the time? I have had similar problems and it is the compression rod. The ball joint end (attached to the hub) was the culprit for me.

When was the last time you had a 4 wheel alignment?

 

Rattles constantly on freeway when coasting, and slightly when on gas.. on slower roads like 40ish, it rattles over bumps and occasionally just for the hell of it...so your thinking the compression rod even though it seems fine when prying at it? How do you test if its defective?

 

Jack up the car. Grab ahold of the compression rod. If you can twist it by hand and it moves around pretty easily, then the ball joint is bad. If it's stiff and doesn't twist or move around, then it's fine.

I would also go get an alignment anyways. They aren't that expensive and if it is out of alignment and you don't do anything about it, it could possibly wear other suspension parts prematurely

 

Thank you for the help so far...So 3 questions, I should be able to twist it by hand? When i Jack it up, the tire should just be hanging free? The ball joint or the bushing may be bad? Because from what I have read, the bushing is replaceable but the ball joint is not...

 

I'm having the same problem. Dealership told me my compression rod bushings were bad. Luckily, you can buy the bushings without having to buy the whole rod.

 

When I jacked my car up I couldn't really move the compression rod by hand, I had to give it a couple little kicks to see/hear that it had play to it. Did the same to the passenger side, and had nothing there. That's how I figured it was most likely the compression rod. It could either be the bushing that's bad, and an easy fix, but in my case it was the ball joint which was bad.

 

Ok, its warmish tonight, so i got under the car and checked it out and took some pictures, this is the driver side transverse link. It is shifted off the bushing, towards the front of the car.


The other side looks fine to me:

This is the driver side compression rod, which seemed perfectly fine and looks fine.. Although I didnt see your comment about trying to kick it vs. twist it by hand...


Does anyone think the transverse link would cause this clunking? I have read some posts about it, but people seem to have just noticed it, vs it causing super annoying clunks.

Also, the sway bar bushings look dry rotted on the edges but there doesnt seem to be any movement.

 

You should be able to twist it by hand, although it will tight and not want to move. If it does move freely with little to no resistance, than something is wrong. Yes your tire will be hanging free when you jack it up. If either ends go bad (bushing or ball joint) it will still cause the same noise. Yes the bushing is replaceable and no the ball joint end is not.

It will have little to no restriction when twisting ONLY if it's bad. If it is tight and you have to kick it to get it to move, then it sounds like it's doing it's job correctly.

Yes these need to be replaced and could very well be the clunking you are hearing. I highly suggest replacing them with poly urethane bushings, about the same price but they are far better in terms of performance and durability.

I would replace all bushings on the lca (lower control arm). If it wore out on one side, it will eventually wear out on the other.

When my bushings went bad, they rubber looked completely fine, but the tearing was internal. About the only way to tell if either end is bad, is twist it by hand. Both directions, back and forth. If it is tight and there is resistance, then both ends are working properly. If there is little to no resistance, then one, or both ends are bad. You have to remove it to further inspect the damage.

replace or grease sway bar bushings