New sound: Right side suspension rattle when hitting a bump. How to diagnose?

[doma]

Hi -
After a recent drive I now get a rattle anytime my right wheels hit a bump/manholecover/large crack. Sounds a lot like a loose bolt with a rattling washer. Take a 1 inch bolt, put two washers on it, thread on a nut, then shake it 3 times. That's the sound. Hitting stuff with the left wheels makes no noise - just the rights.
I pulled both wheels and inspected all the links - everything seems tight. Of course, this is with the wheels hanging down with the shocks at full extansion - so maybe something loose wouldn't show up in that configuration?? I banged on all the suspension parts with a rubber mallet - can't repro the rattle. I've checked the bolts that hold the shocks in - they seem tight. Everything has green and brown marker marks on them from the assembly inspections.
Doesnt' sound like the rear diffuser to me - but nevertheless I went and checked all the little bolts for that - they are tight.
I've tried finding a pothole in my neighborhood and trying to get just the front right wheel to hit it or just the rear right wheel to hit the pothold to narrow the washery rattle down to just one wheel - but have been unsucessful at that.

Anyway - anyone got any diagnosis suggestions? Maybe something other than suspension that can be triggered by just hitting the right wheels?

thanks-
-dom

[Serebo1]

Originally Posted by doma

Hi -
After a recent drive I now get a rattle anytime my right wheels hit a bump/manholecover/large crack. Sounds a lot like a loose bolt with a rattling washer. Take a 1 inch bolt, put two washers on it, thread on a nut, then shake it 3 times. That's the sound. Hitting stuff with the left wheels makes no noise - just the rights.
I pulled both wheels and inspected all the links - everything seems tight. Of course, this is with the wheels hanging down with the shocks at full extansion - so maybe something loose wouldn't show up in that configuration?? I banged on all the suspension parts with a rubber mallet - can't repro the rattle. I've checked the bolts that hold the shocks in - they seem tight. Everything has green and brown marker marks on them from the assembly inspections.
Doesnt' sound like the rear diffuser to me - but nevertheless I went and checked all the little bolts for that - they are tight.
I've tried finding a pothole in my neighborhood and trying to get just the front right wheel to hit it or just the rear right wheel to hit the pothold to narrow the washery rattle down to just one wheel - but have been unsucessful at that.

Anyway - anyone got any diagnosis suggestions? Maybe something other than suspension that can be triggered by just hitting the right wheels?

thanks-
-dom

Is it coming from the front or rear? Try removing the wheels and lifting up on the rotors. If there's any play, it's possible that the bracket holding the top of the shocks is loose. Two bolts hold the bracket on. Is your suspension OEM?

[doma]

Originally Posted by Serebo1

Is it coming from the front or rear? Try removing the wheels and lifting up on the rotors. If there's any play, it's possible that the bracket holding the top of the shocks is loose. Two bolts hold the bracket on. Is your suspension OEM?

Yes, OEM. I'll try lifting on the rotors. When fully extended the connections at the top of the shocks feel very tight. Can't tell if it's front or rear. Will try some more driving tests to find out.

[R T]

try jacking both fronts followed by both rears instead of just the right side so you don't have the anti-roll bar preloading the joints as you inspect.

[raggedy1]

"jiggling" sounds coming from the suspension, eh?

Dom, could this be the dreaded steering rack problem??? I have the LSS and I've had jiggling sounds coming from the front since very early on. I had the rack replaced and the sounds diminished, but after a few hundred miles the sounds are back again. The steering felt tighter after the rack replacement but that could have been my imagination working too. Now that I have a louder intake and exhaust I don't notice it as much unless I really listen hard for the sounds.

keep us informed as to your findings...

[MavsFan]

Did anyone ever find an answer to this? I am having a similar problem with my 05 with 8K miles. Sounds like a harsh rattle when rolling on rough or even semi rough surfaces. If I hit the brakes hard right at the end of a stop I also get a clunk sound. I can feel the vibration in the foot peddals a little (I suspect radiating from teh chassis nearby) and in the steering wheel a bit more. I plan to take the front wheels off to check for loose suspension parts but just wanted to see if there was anything else I need to check.

[R'elise Me]

I'm getting noise from front right only on track right curbs. No noise in any other situation. Sharp thunk sound w/ bit of feel in the steering wheel. Suspension mounts on the front right seem to be fine. Mines a track car with Nitron Sport suspension, Yoko slicks, Blackwatch swaybar bushings, that's it. Any ideas?

[fpitas]

My front lower ball joints were barely tightened, and some other people's have been just flat loose, so be sure to check those.

[ChrisH]

Go ahead and check the torque on all your suspension components. Don't just listen for a rattle. It doesn't take long to check the tightness of the bolts.

Also, there are some bolts people don't normally check because they are behind the shock absorber. See this thread:
Little clunks in steering - NOT the steering rack thread

[Chris Mackey]

I had a similar rattle. Turned out the several bolts holding the front clam were loose, allowing the aluminum piece it is fixed to to rattle around.