Rattling sound from the front left & right side of the car - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

toywhiz · 04-17-2010, 10:43 PM

Hi,

I have a 1999 Toyota Camry LE - 4 cylinder. It has around 91K miles on it.

I am hearing a rattling sound from the front of the car. It seems to be intermittent and coming from both the left and right side. The sound is similar to what one would hear if you were to stir a spoon in an empty pot - thats the closest comparison I could think of. I have noticed it shows up when I drive on any slightly uneven road. I am guessing it could be the struts but not sure why I would hear the sound. Weak struts should just result in an uncomfortable ride but thats just my thinking. Any ideas around what this could be would be much appreciated.

Thanks

***JohnGD*** · 04-17-2010, 11:09 PM

Try strut mounts. Gen 4s had defective mounts from the factory and make loose knocking noises.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toywhiz

Hi,

I have a 1999 Toyota Camry LE - 4 cylinder. It has around 91K miles on it.

I am hearing a rattling sound from the front of the car. It seems to be intermittent and coming from both the left and right side. The sound is similar to what one would hear if you were to stir a spoon in an empty pot - thats the closest comparison I could think of. I have noticed it shows up when I drive on any slightly uneven road. I am guessing it could be the struts but not sure why I would hear the sound. Weak struts should just result in an uncomfortable ride but thats just my thinking. Any ideas around what this could be would be much appreciated.

Thanks

toywhiz · 04-18-2010, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnGD

Try strut mounts. Gen 4s had defective mounts from the factory and make loose knocking noises.

Thanks John. Where do these strut mounts go? Anyway I can verify it is the mounts for sure? How much would these mounts cost? Does it need a professional/special equipment to replace these?

Edit: I just googled this and am finding 2 types of strut mounts - one with bearings and one without. How can I know what my car needs? Is it recommended to change any other related parts as I am fixing this?

Thanks

93celicaconv · 04-18-2010, 07:57 AM

To verify that the noise is, in fact, coming from your front strut mounts, get a can of sprayable white lithium grease, then spray the top of the strut mounts with this lubricant. Put a quite a bit on each of the two. Then start the engine, turn the wheels left & right, lock to lock, then put a little more spray of white lithium grease on top of the strut mounts. Then go for a drive. If everything is quiet (I think it will be), then you know the noise is from the strut mounts.

I don't have a Camry, but for friends that do, I've done with with their cars, and the sprayable white lithium grease actually does the trick for 6 months to a year, even more. And it isn't like the strut mounts are going to fail because you hear noise, it is just that they turn on dry surfaces and tend to wear a bit.

Try this and see what happens.

toywhiz · 04-18-2010, 08:38 AM

Alright..I will give this a shot. I just want to eliminate the sound. I really don't care about the comfort of the ride. BTW, in case I had to replace the strut mounts would these be with bearings or without? Will post an update about the lithium grease.....

93celicaconv · 04-18-2010, 09:12 AM

Looks at O'Reillys Auto Parts (www.oreillyauto.com) for your specific vehicle. They will show you all the various manufacturers of strut mounts they have access to the fit your vehicle. When you look, you will see that for the front, the kits all contain bearings. You can get individual parts, but as for replacement kits, they all have bearings. They won't be the same kinds of bearings you might be familiar with (high speed rolling element bearings, for example), but ones that work well with very small amounts of movement with high axial loads. I don't think your strut mounts are affecting your ride quality, just your enjoyment of the ride (because you don't like the noise they are making, and I wouldn't either). I think the white lithium grease spray will do you well.

toywhiz · 04-18-2010, 03:35 PM

Got the lithium grease spray. Do I need to open up anything before I spray? From the top it looks there is very little space for the grease to make it into the assembly.

The kits will cost me approx $250 for both. Not looking to spend that kind of money right now. If the grease does the trick then I will be all set.

Thanks

93celicaconv · 04-18-2010, 03:45 PM

Your strut mount looks like this, right (only with a stud and nut coming through the center)?

Just spray the center cavity on the inside - spary slowly so it doesn't blow itself all over the place. Fill that cavity up at least once. You should be good to go.

Silicone spray lubricant is a lot like water, and would probably penetrate quicker. Spray white lithium grease will take time to penetrate all the way to the bearing surfaces, so it may not quiet down immediately. But the white lithium grease is water resistant and will last longer than the spray silicone lubricant.

***JohnGD*** · 04-18-2010, 09:32 PM

If you can verify the noise is coming from the strut mounts, which are a problem on this vintage, then each is about $56 + shipping from rockauto. (KYB w/ bearing). I believe KYB is the OEM here like the ones Toyota sells.

At 91 K miles, I'd be inclined to swap out the struts too. Check that rubber spring insulators, boots are still in good shape for reuse. Otherwise replace with new rubber parts. Get them from online toyota dealers.

toywhiz · 04-19-2010, 12:40 AM

Voila!! Extreme Magic!! Thank you! Merci beaucoup! Shukran! Muchos Gracias! El-hamdullah
! Toda! One application of Lithium grease did the trick. I filled up the mount hole real well and the 80s temperature that we had today also probably helped in getting it into every corner. Took it out for a test drive and absolutely no sound!! Had been living with this sound for over 8 months and now I suddenly feel like I am driving a new car

I think I am now ready to take on the world. John and 93Celica - are you listening? I may need your help again on my next project which is Engine Overhaul.........................just kiddin

Thanks all *Thread Closed*

***JohnGD*** · 04-19-2010, 12:52 AM

Actually, now that you have identified the strut mounts are faulty, then do consider replacing them. The rubber probably broke loose inside. In general, I wouldn't want to drive around with defective suspension parts in case something comes loose or break.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toywhiz

Voila!! Extreme Magic!! Thank you! Merci beaucoup! Shukran! Muchos Gracias! El-hamdullah
! Toda! One application of Lithium grease did the trick. I filled up the mount hole real well and the 80s temperature that we had today also probably helped in getting it into every corner. Took it out for a test drive and absolutely no sound!! Had been living with this sound for over 8 months and now I suddenly feel like I am driving a new car

I think I am now ready to take on the world. John and 93Celica - are you listening? I may need your help again on my next project which is Engine Overhaul.........................just kiddin

Thanks all *Thread Closed*

93celicaconv · 04-19-2010, 06:20 AM

JohnGD, I know what you are saying. And logic would suggest you are right. And I've never removed a strut mount from a Toyota before, so I don't know that much about them.

But I did have the exact same problem on my 92 Pontiac SSEi, probably starting in 1998 or so. I talked to a GM mechanic who advised this solution. On that particular vehicle at least, he said the main thing is to ensure the strut mount remains tight (no movement other that in the steering rotation process) yet allows smooth steering rotation. He said dust & grime gets in those mounts all the time, and the best thing to do is to provide lubrication to them to help keep the dust/grime out. So I put this sprayed-on white lithium grease on those strut mounts back in 1998, per the mechanics recommendation. I think I may have sprayed the mounts one other time since then. This car (great car) is still running in the family - son owns it now. Never had a front strut mount issue - rides as quiet and tight as new.

So I don't think sounds coming from a strut mount necessarily condemns it to be replaced. I'm sure there are mechanics out there that would do it to have work and make some money (and we all know that goes on a lot out there). Since then, I've either done this for other people's cars, or recommended this to them. And so far, I've never heard anyone coming back and saying there came a time when they had to replace the strut mounts. At least not in my small sampling of people who had noise and used this process to eliminate it.

1998CamryLE · 04-19-2010, 11:09 AM

hi, new TN member here... I have the same rattling on my 98. It seems as if it gets louder as the RPM get higher and when they drop it get softer. Its all started (at least when i noticed it) after coming back from the shop after having a engine swap. could this be my problem too?

93celicaconv · 04-19-2010, 11:47 AM

Probably not, 1998CamryLE. The kind of noise involved with a strut mount is based on going over uneven pavement, and as the strut mount moves with the uneven pavement, it produces more of a thumping noise. Not related to engine RPM at all.

Your post, based on the little information you have provided, suggests the rattling could be coming from a serpantine belt idler and/or tensioner pulley, a water pump, or possibly a timing belt idler and/or tensioner pulley. Maybe something wasn't tightened properly on your engine when swapped? Could be. If you didn't hear this noise on your original engine, but you do now, I would take it back to the shop and have them check it over. Maybe they used to swapped engines parts that could have been going bad, rather than transfer the parts from your original engine, which may all have been good.

toywhiz · 04-19-2010, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1998CamryLE

hi, new TN member here... I have the same rattling on my 98. It seems as if it gets louder as the RPM get higher and when they drop it get softer. Its all started (at least when i noticed it) after coming back from the shop after having a engine swap. could this be my problem too?

I dont think you have the same problem. The RPM had nothing to do with the sound from my strut mounts. This would happen only when I was driving on an uneven surface. I am not an expert here but my guess would be that the engine mounts could be the cause of your problem. May be you should start a new thread here.

And who are you calling "new"? I am a full 3 days old here