Suspension (?) Rattle

[ledzilla]

For the longest time I've been hearing a rattle coming from the front when going over bumps, and another, more metallic sounding, quick rattle coming from the rear. I thought maybe it was the shocks as I heard mentioned that the old, worn out shocks tend to get noisy. All four have been replaced and it made no difference to the noise I'm hearing. On top of it all I'm hearing a creaking noise from the front right as I get close to stopping while holding the brakes. Any thoughts?

[m1dn1temarauder]

I hear a fluttering sound coming from the front right and have not been able to isolate what it is yet...might be the same rattle you are hearing.....curious

[ledzilla]

Yeah, I want this rattle to go away but for the life of me I can't figure out what's causing it.

[Green96]

I think that the ball boints and/or tie-rod end may be a problem on these cars. I have not had a problem yet, but my parents have an 05 CV (same suspension setup except steel control arms and softer springs). They had to replace 2 ball joints by 55K miles.

[ledzilla]

I'm thinking that could be the issue... No one can find anything actually loose, and I noticed the same exact issue on my old Lincoln (making only $320/mo, I couldn't really afford to do anything about it anyway at the time). Ball joints seem affordabel enough.. But can anyone give me any info on the difficulty of doing it in the garage as opposed to the cost of having it done?

[ROB502]

Nothing loose nothing found. TURN the radio UP and keep the wheels rolling.:burnout:

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Nothing loose nothing found. TURN the radio UP and keep the wheels rolling.:burnout:


Ha, Just because you can't find a problem doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

[justbob]

Mike, check the sway bar end links before anything else. When these go they make all kinds of racket. Good thing is they are very cheap and an easy fix.

[Marauderjack]

Does it sound like a paper cup rattling in the right front kick panel??:confused:

[Krytin]

Mike, check the sway bar end links before anything else. When these go they make all kinds of racket. Good thing is they are very cheap and an easy fix.
+! on these - ask me how I know!!
Very hard to feel the end play in the links as it is very hard to "unload" them.
They make a H*LL of a rattle going over bumps a low speed!

[Glenn]

Kudos, it is the front sway bar end links - the bolt broke or pulled loose. I had the same sound particulary going over bumps. Ford sells the part. It is hard to see unless you take off the front tires and closely examine the end links.

Glenn :burnout:

[ledzilla]

Okay, I got nowhere checking out the linkages (I got distracted), but when I was getting started I heard a creak come from the right front wheel. With the wheel off the ground, I tried wiggling it from side to side and such, and it creaked every time. I recorded the sound with my crackberry and uploaded the audio to my joke of a web site. I am under the impression that it's the hub/bearing. Any thoughts would be appreciated before I buy unnecessary parts. Here's a link to the audio file:

http://www.ledzilla.us/audio/VN00004.amr (http://www.ledzilla.us/audio/VN2000004.amr)

It's not a standard audio format :mad:, but I got it to play with Windows Media Player.

[Got_1]

if your hearing a creak when moving the wheel side to side its most likely tie rods or ball joints. wheel bearings won't make that sound.

[Got_1]

a quick and easy diag for ya. while the car is in the air, zip the nut off of the tie rod and pull it out of the nuckle. now move the wheel side to side. if it still makes the creak then its ball joints (lowers most likely). if the creak is gone then you know its tie rods.

[ledzilla]

a quick and easy diag for ya. while the car is in the air, zip the nut off of the tie rod and pull it out of the nuckle. now move the wheel side to side. if it still makes the creak then its ball joints (lowers most likely). if the creak is gone then you know its tie rods.

Kept forgetting to check back on this thread. I'll try and do that this weekend. If Friday night goes on into Saturday morning with my new lady friend, then I'll have to give it a whirl on Sunday. I already know that I need new ball joints, I just hope I don't have to add a new tie rod end to the list of parts for the right front. &%^#$&# potholes... :mad2:

[Black Dynamite]

+! on these - ask me how I know!!
Very hard to feel the end play in the links as it is very hard to "unload" them.
They make a H*LL of a rattle going over bumps a low speed!


That they do. Mine are making a helluva racket at low speed and I know I need to replace them. My problem is I am broke at the moment and won't have money to fix them right away. So I guess I have a couple of questions;

1) How much are the parts?

2) Are they easily installed with minimal tools in my garage or should I let a pro do it?

3) Are they going to fail completely and damage the car or canI drive easy on them for a month or so?


Thanks guys!

[Krytin]

That they do. Mine are making a helluva racket at low speed and I know I need to replace them. My problem is I am broke at the moment and won't have money to fix them right away. So I guess I have a couple of questions;

1) How much are the parts?
OEM is $30 - $35 each and should be replaced in pairs.

2) Are they easily installed with minimal tools in my garage or should I let a pro do it?
Hand tools will do it but the end in the steering knuckle/spindle is easier to get if you remove the caliper/rotor.

3) Are they going to fail completely and damage the car or canI drive easy on them for a month or so?
Drive easy on them - I had one break off completely on my Mountaineer and continued to drive it until the replacement came from "The Dealer".


Thanks guys!
See answers above^^