Rattling noise when driving over bumps, etc - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

freakgasolinefight · 03-06-2010, 10:09 PM

Hey, guys. I haven't been on this forum in a while, but I could really use a little help if anyone has a moment.

I have a '91 Corolla DX with about 68,000 miles on it. For a while now, it's been making knocking/rattling noises when going over bumps. I thought it was probably the CV joints (they were truly jacked) and I had them replaced, but the car still rattles quite a bit on bumpy terrain or while going over a speed bump, etc. I thought maybe a broken strut or spring, but I'd think one of the two different mechanics that've looked at my car in the past two months (one changing front tires, the other replacing the front axles) would have noticed that. I looked at them myself, and they look fine. The car does not noticeably sway or bounce, though if I cut a hard corner coming down a hill there's be a big clunk like the suspension has just bottomed out.

Any thoughts? I'd love for this to be something I could fix myself.

***SCT*** · 03-07-2010, 12:23 AM

Check the lower ball joints.

And check the exhaust system. It can be a loose part, low hanging, etc. and can be the source of some sounds when going over bumps.

90 GP · 03-07-2010, 05:30 AM

Jack up the car to get the weight off the tires and grasp a tire and check for up/down and side to side play.If you have a front sway bar that could have broken parts as well. If it makes that much noise when driving it should be easy to spot the problem.

freakgasolinefight · 03-07-2010, 02:22 PM

I don't think it's exhaust. It seems to be coming very distinctly from the front end of the car. I'm definitely going to jack it up later today or tomorrow and poke around to see what I can find.

pickedaname · 10-14-2010, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freakgasolinefight

I don't think it's exhaust. It seems to be coming very distinctly from the front end of the car. I'm definitely going to jack it up later today or tomorrow and poke around to see what I can find.

So.... what was it?

eage8 · 10-14-2010, 10:00 AM

I would say it's probably the strut top mount...

ELUSIV Rolla · 10-14-2010, 06:04 PM

Or a popped shock, but that's more of a clunk than a rattle. My car felt like it was on bump stops when the back one bit the dust. Check engine mounts too. When my rear one went to God it had a rattle. My 2 cents.

canadianae92 · 10-16-2010, 09:48 AM

yep shocks that are done for will make a clunk clunk over bumps sometimes, push down on each corner, the corner shouldn't oscillate
possible it could be ball joints mounts or sway bar links too

90 GP · 10-16-2010, 11:20 AM

I agree with the upper strut mount. They can cause quite a racket when they are toast.