Rattle / Clunking in the front end solved

[BCA]

Sorry for the rant here, but I just need to vent a little.

2004 LSE with 43,000 miles.

I have been chasing down a rattle in the front end for a few weeks now. I was sure by the description of what other people had experienced that it was the sway bar frame mount bushings so I just ordered a set of Energy Suspension bushing. After tearing it down to replace them I determined that the originals were good and tight.
I checked the end link bushings, ball joints, control arm bushings, but everything seemed good and solid. Frustrated, I put the car back on the ground and figured I would take it a friend of mine who has a lift so I could really do a thorough job of pinning it down including checking the upper shock mounts.
Last night I realized I hadn’t checked the calipers so on my way home I found a bumpy road and the clunking & rattling went away when I applied the brakes.
Jacked it up one more time and sure enough the brake pads were loose in the calipers. After pulling the caliper off it was then obvious. There were no anti-rattle clips installed or they had fallen out.
I’m a little relieved, but a bit frustrated with myself because I didn’t start with the simplest thing first.

 

[Rifleman@LaymansPC.com]

We all are known to have done such things. Esspecially in a car that typically never lets us off cheap

 

[ryanlhs86]

what kind of rattle were you getting? I have one in my front end that usually starts around 45-50mph...sounds like its coming out of the dash but i cant really pin down where its coming from. Is this the kind of problem you had?

 

[BCA]

I would describe it as a low to mid frequency clunking sound. It was only noticeable when going over bumpy pavement and it was localized toward the front corners of the car. Most noticeable going 40 mph or less, but I still heard it at 55-60 when going over pavement with frost heaves.

If it is the brake pads moving around loosely in the caliper it's very easy to check. Depending on the wheels you have, you may even be able to check them without removing the wheel. On my car with the 7 spoke rims I could stick a screwdriver in between the spokes and easily move the pad.
It's not much effort though to remove the wheel and check it more thoroughly.