Rattling sound from from front drivers

[MAX_POWERS]

I been getting a rattling sound from my 99 Q45 coming from the front drivers side when I go over bumps. I checked the tie rods, ball joints and wheel bearings. They were good. Sounds as if the strut is loose, could the strut cartidge come loose?

[elwesso]

I know the older Qs are different but I had a similar thing happen, the center nut on the strut came loose after a while and it just needed to be retightened....Could be the case in your scenario.

[3Q Jay]

strut mount.

zerothread?id=107345

[MAX_POWERS]

Thanks, should I also replace the strut cartidge?

[3Q Jay]

how many miles?

btw, i'm 95% based on your descrtiption, but of course there is always the uncertainty of an internet diagnosis. so, you might go under the hood to the shock towers lift off the plastic centercap, and feel around inside. the black metal is of course part of the strut mount, as in the pictures. when mine was completely broken, there were small rubber 'chips' floating around inside that i could fish out with my fingetrs. also, i could bounce the front of the car with my finger in there, and feel relative movement [there should be none].

[MAX_POWERS]

It has 84444 miles.I juast checked to see if all the strut mounts bolts were tight. I did not see ant rubber pieces atound. I have to really bounce the car real hard to be able to hear ant sound, but I can not tell where it is coming from. The car rides fine, but get that putt, putt sound.

[Q451990]

Is it more of a "crunching" sound or a true rattle? If it's more of a "crunch" I would look closely at your upper links and sway bar bushings (lubricate them).

Heath

[elwesso]

Is it more of a "crunching" sound or a true rattle? If it's more of a "crunch" I would look closely at your upper links and sway bar bushings (lubricate them).

Heath

Y33 doesnt have upper links....

[3Q Jay]

since you have a 99, does it have the firmness switch?putt putt sounds very like the loose[broken] mount.

over 60k, i would do the cartriges [$107/ea. from Joe] since you are taking the springs out anyway.

Falkdesigns has SR specials on his--he may have a line on bringing more over from Japan--check to see. otherwise, there are NO aftermarket struts to be had.

[RobertsnewQ]

One more thing you should check is swaybar end links.

Nissan style balljoint end links get loose and rattle - almost every high mileage Nissan I've seen has loose end links.

The noise they make is a click-click-rattle that doesn't always match road shocks.

[MAX_POWERS]

I had my dad bounce the car and found out the rattle was coming from the sway bar link. I had to just tighten up the upper swaybar link nut about half a turn. Now the annoying rattle is gone, glad I did not have to some major work. Thanks for all your responses.

[DAEDALUS]

Probably time for new end links and bushings then.

[3Q Jay]

glad it was such an easy fix. RNQ is spot on, and i'm glad to be wrong in this case. i did do the end link on mine, driver's side was $36.85, and pass side 22.93. go figure!

[RobertsnewQ]

Yep, my left one is pretty loose too. I'll swap it when I do the upper links and rack.

It's a great design when new because there's no bushing deflection to worry about. It's when they age that it becomes annoying.

[Q451990]

Y33 doesnt have upper links....

I know... guess it's time for me to start reading for comprehension.