Rattle over bumps - front end?

[vegachicago]

I've got a front end rattle over small bumps or rough road. Seems to maybe be on the left driver side area. Not the transmission shifting or brakes since the noise is there with brakes applied or just coasting. This is not a clunk, just a metallic kind of rattle. I've checked under my car a number of times with a rubber mallet and cannot find anything. Not my Kysor shutters, or plastic rattle.
However, I find that if I raise the car and hit my axle, it almost makes the sound. Maybe a loose or worn carrier or axle bearing. It's been to the dealer 2 times with no luck. Does Not seem temperature sensitive either. Driving me nuts! I have around 8500 on the odometer. HELP

[Sponsor]

[Twenty]

Sounds like mine. "Metallic rattle" is exactly how I've been describing it.

We have gone through mine once and found a few loose bolts which were then tightened. It's still there though.

[vegachicago]

Thanks Twenty. I AM NOT ALONE. I don't think it's dangerous, just annoying. Car works great otherwise. I don't complain about the trans. I came from driving a lot of manuals, to me its just a querky manual. I have drilled and inserted plastic screws on the whole front end plastic bumper and panels to eliminate that possibility. Still searching.

[revhigh]

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=267513

[vegachicago]

Revhigh, thanks for the link. I've read this front to back and it went the "CLUNK" in the tower thing and certain suspensions, none of which really pertains to the problem. Everyone in this thread talk about clunks. I've never had a clunk noise, just the small metallic rattle under 20 mph over small bumps. Around here there are lots of speed bumps and going over one does not produce the noise. Only little bumps and rough road. This is not the same problem in that thread, thanks anyway.

[Rememo]

Originally Posted by vegachicago

Revhigh, thanks for the link. I've read this front to back and it went the "CLUNK" in the tower thing and certain suspensions, none of which really pertains to the problem. Everyone in this thread talk about clunks. I've never had a clunk noise, just the small metallic rattle under 20 mph over small bumps. Around here there are lots of speed bumps and going over one does not produce the noise. Only little bumps and rough road. This is not the same problem in that thread, thanks anyway.

Pound on your brake caliper. Maybe the pads are rattling around in there.
I seem to remember a post about someone having a dealer replace the calipers on their car.

[Bogey]

Yeah i had the same as twenty done on my vehicle, but no success. Still there.

[vegachicago]

Rattle is there even when braking. Would the calipers or pads still make noise when applied? Can they rattle regardless of application of the brakes?

[Bogey]

They shouldnt, i have suspicion it might be the front windsheild cowl, when i tap it the sound is similar.

[vegachicago]

Bogey, you mean the plastic cowling at the exterior base of the windshield, just below the wipers?