Hey guys!
long time reader, first time poster!

just have a quick question...
when im driving, i hear a rattling coming from the front end. It sounds similar to bad sway bar end links, but it's constantly, not just when going over bumps, and when im on the brakes, the rattling goes away...

anyone have any ideas what it could be? i replaced the anti rattle clips on the brake pads, and also checked the wheel bearings

any info would be great! im gonna go bald pulling all my hair out soon lol

 

I know this sounds 'cliche, but does it make the rattle when you kick the front tires? How about if you rock the car?

 

no, it doesn't
i've even had the car jacked up and tried to rock the wheels side to side and up and down...no noise, only seems to be when driving...

 

Outer pads do not use clips. Check to see if they are loose. You can bend the ears tight easily by pinching them to the caliper with channel lock pliers.

But I suspect the caliper itself is loose on the spindle. Jack the car up with the wheel on, have someone hold the brake pedal and try to rotate the wheel and see if anything gives.

 

checked the caliper, it's tight and not moving. I replaced the caliper pins, the pin sleeves and all rubber o-rings, everything is tight.

the noise only comes when there is no load on the suspension, it sounds like a spring tapping pretty fast to be honest.

 

 

How can you have no load on the suspension? As soon as its on the ground the front suspension is loaded. Could be your catalayic converter. Noise travels, it may seem like its the front end but its not. Remember your catalayic is far up front also. Could be exhaust rattling by the y pipe. But im beting its the catalayic converter. My astro van does the same thing & its coming from the cat. Jack it up & hit the cat a few times or try & shake it.