Chattering suspension noise when hitting small bumps.

[Bad_dude]

Hello guys,
I don't know where and what cause the noise but it's not clunking, not moan or groan, not thumping. This occurs when hitting small little pot holes and bumps. I avoid as best I could all of the big holes, and almost come to a stop and climb slowly over big speed bumps or any bumps if I could. What can I say, the car is old and don't it falling apart when I am unemployed and cannot afford to fix it.
The noise is symmetric, higher up under the hood and I don't really know what to call it other than it's like little chattering clicking when hitting tiny bumps or holes.
My upper and lower control ball joints are good, no play in the rack and no leak at all.
When I just got the car almost 4 years ago and I took the car for alignment after new tires, the mechanic said the sound is from worn out shock. Now I know my shocks are not busted. There's no bouncing when hitting big bumps and if I push my car down it does not bounce up and down like my old dancing 87 Corolla.
What do you guys think? The strut mounts are worn out you think and thus making that chattering noise?
Now I want to grease my upper control arm and bushings, what kind of grease should I use and how would I do it? I replaced my upper control arm and outer tie rod boots about 2 years ago and I grease them up good with the red Harbor Freight grease. http://www.harborfreight.com/14-oz-s...ase-40710.html
If I want to regrease the boots in the future, what technique would you guys recommend that I do? I hate taking the boots off again and taking the circlips off to regrease.

Thanks.

[deevergote]

Worn shock mounts could cause noise, for sure.
Your shocks may not be totally blown, but if they're original, they're most certainly close to being dead. If they're original, changing them would be smart. Are you lowered? If so, then you should DEFINITELY change the shocks!

If you're lowered, what are you lowered on? My friend had some Skunk2 springs that would cause a rattling nose. He replaced them with H&R Race springs (off of my car, actually...) and the noise went away. Nothing was wrong with the Skunk2 springs, or with his shocks, yet there was a rattle. We still have no idea why it happened.

[Bad_dude]

Worn shock mounts could cause noise, for sure.
Your shocks may not be totally blown, but if they're original, they're most certainly close to being dead. If they're original, changing them would be smart. Are you lowered? If so, then you should DEFINITELY change the shocks!

If you're lowered, what are you lowered on? My friend had some Skunk2 springs that would cause a rattling nose. He replaced them with H&R Race springs (off of my car, actually...) and the noise went away. Nothing was wrong with the Skunk2 springs, or with his shocks, yet there was a rattle. We still have no idea why it happened.

Hi,
My car is stock and not lowered. I cannot afford new struts and springs as I am unemployed but I am just curious if it's dangerous to drive without replacements. If it's not dangerous as I don't drive my car like a race car, I can turn the stereo up some to drown out the noise. I do have a good touch screen and nice made in America amps.
Is it worth it to change just the shock mounts? Or just save up and do it all at once? It'll be a while before I can afford to change them all. How are those Monroe coils over struts already installed when sold? They are like $130 a piece.

Thanks.

[deevergote]

Those Monroe "quick struts" as they're called aren't fantastic... but they're most certainly better than what you have if your stuff is all original. I'd consider them a temporary fix only, but they could be worth the investment if you can afford them. Bad suspension components are dangerous, and an accident will certainly be more expensive than repairing the suspension!

Since you need the top mounts AND struts most likely, that Monroe deal might be your best bet. Other than that, try looking on eBay for top mounts and shocks... KYB GR2 and Tokico HP are both decent stock replacements. They aren't meant to be lowered, but if you plan to stay stock height, they'll last a good long time.

[JBradley500]

its not something stupid like sway bar bushings is it? mine would make an odd noise when i hit small bumps and thats what it was... id assume the mechanic would have spotted that though.

[deevergote]

Mechanics don't always catch everything... I've met a number of mechanics that knew more about cars in general than me, but far less about MY car than me.

[Bad_dude]

The only thing good about that mechanic to me is the alignment. He only charge $35 for the 4 wheels alignment. He had some kid that works for him change the brake pads on my 99 corolla and didn't install the wear indicator. He also tore the dust boot on the caliper and didn't tell my wife or repair it. Last week I went to change pads and there it was. The boot tear was due to piston compression base on what I see.
My upper and tie rod dust boots were all torn and he didn't tell me about them. He did the alignment.

The noise I described has been there since I bought the car about less than 4 years ago. It doesn't get any worse since. I'll tried to replace the sway bar endlinks. If the 2 bushings don't look that bad, do I have to replace them too?

Thanks.

[deevergote]

Replacing 20 year old bushings is never a bad idea, but if they're not dried and cracked, then they aren't in desperate need of replacement.

[sdhardcoregamer]

Both my accords make a similar noise. Kinda sounds bad but doesn't feel different then any other bump. A rattle and clanking of metal. I just got a new rack n pinion in my sedan. Only drove it home so I can't say if that was the noise but my mech said the RnP goes bad on alot of our accords. I guess I was missing 2 of 4 bolts and they had to re weld bolts back in to mount it from my understanding. I replaced my struts and sway bar bushings and sway bar end links and still have noise. I think I hear it mostly on the drivers side.

[Bad_dude]

I don't know that my rack and pinion is in any kinda of trouble. I think it's more on the suspension.
Any one knows if worn out shocks would make this kind of noise? I was thinking is mostly like the shock mount bushings that are worn out thus making the noise.

Thanks.

[tlej@live.com]

You might want to check the bar that holds your hood up. My cb7 had no real spot for it, so it rattles if I put it in the wrong spot.

[Bad_dude]

You might want to check the bar that holds your hood up. My cb7 had no real spot for it, so it rattles if I put it in the wrong spot.

Thanks but that is lock in with a rubber clip under the hood so it's not that.

[tlej@live.com]

Also the bars that hold up the trunk can be rattly.. But you said it was from the front. So I'd go with Deever

[sdhardcoregamer]

I don't the my rack and pinion is in any kinda of trouble. I think it's more on the suspension.
Any know if worn out shocks would make that kind of noise? I was thinking is mostly like the shock mount bushings that are worn out thus making the noise.

Thanks.

Well maybe, but like I said, after getting new struts and springs all the way around including shock mounts and also swaybar endlinks and swayback bushings I still had the noise.



I just picked my car from the shop and will use it tonight after them replacing my jacked up rack n pinion. I'll let u know if I still hear mine.

[Bad_dude]

Also the bars that hold up the trunk can be rattly.. But you said it was from the front. So I'd go with Deever

Wait, are there bars that holds up the trunk in the sedan? Could you be more specific?
Thanks.