I have had my Camaro for less than a year and only driven it a couple months total. The front end has a rough ride and very noticeable noise on the drivers side.

When I go over bumps or rough road there is a noise I can best describe as metal on metal clacking/fluttering.

I have jacked the car up and checked the ball joint, tie rod, tightened wheel bearings, and checked the 2 bolts where the strut connects to the spindle. Everything seems fine.

When I grab the wheel and wiggle it side to side the whole steering arm assembly moves along with the idler arm. I didn't look to see if the steering wheel moves when it does though.

The only things I can think of are possibly the strut mount or steering box. The steering is tight when driving though. The center link and idler arm appear to be newer.

Any ideas where to look?

 

How did you "check" the ball joint? (there are actually ways that work, and then there are those that don't)

Other than that:

• Strut
• Strut mount
• Sway bar, esp bushings
• Control arm bushings

 

I should also have included, brake calipers can make an outrageous amount of rattling noise when the pin bushings go bad. Pads as well, particularly the outboard one, if the little ears weren't bent in, to clip it securely to the caliper.

 

It's on the lift and I was checking it out. The caliper seemed good but the pads were slopping around like crazy. Inner clip had falled off and none on the outside. I'm thinking this is the noise.

 

If the noise quits when you step on the brakes, then that could be it.

 

I bent the outer pad's ears in so it was tight in the caliper. Noise is gone.