'95 Avalon w/rattling-clinking suspension noise - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

KeepItSimple · 02-15-2010, 12:23 PM

Hello all I have a '95 Avalon XL with 153,000 miles on it. A few months ago I started hearing this intermittent clinking/clanking/rattling noise when driving that sounds like it's coming from behind the dash above the driver's front wheel area.
It's not the "bottoming out" or "clunking" sound when going over bumps like some owners with strut mount issues have discussed here but a clinking or rattling noise that sounds like something is loose and ready to fall off. The noise comes and goes as I drive but lately when it comes it's been getting louder and clinkier. The car doesn't ride or handle any differently with the noise but it sure sounds like something's loose and ready to drop off the car.

I'm hoping for some help from y'all on this forum because the problem is intermittent and would not happen when I took it to my mechanic so he had no idea what the problem was. However he still charged me $90 to check it out and "tighten things up" which did nothing to help.

I've been researching the threads here about the Avalon strut/mounts etc issues and wondering if anyone could help pinpoint the problem. Here are the parts I know of to check that could be related to the problem. Any input or additional info would be MUCH appreciated so I can know more about it before going back to the mechanic, probably a different one this time.

-Struts
-Strut Mounts
-Boots (for the struts? for mounts? I'm not sure)
-Ball Joints
-Stabilizer Bushings
-Stabilizer Bar Bushings (same as Stabilizer Bushings?)
-Sway Bar Bushings
-Sway Bar Links
-Inner Tie Rods
-cracked or rotted springs
-other rubber parts?

BTW I bought this '95 Avy in 2006 with 148k miles and do not know if the struts or other suspension parts have ever been replaced.

IF the struts need replacing I was thinking of the KYB-GR2 or OEM based on threads here but not sure of the difference in the price or how the car would ride. My goal is a soft cushy quiet ride rather than a stiff one.
IF the strut mounts need replacing can I get opinions for Factory vs Monroe vs Moog and why?

ALSO, someone recommended spraying silicone on the top (?) of the strut mount to get rid of noise. I'd like to try it but what kind of spray do I get exactly and where exactly would I spray it?

Thanks much in advance for any help and for reading this long post!

tacosteelersman · 02-15-2010, 01:16 PM

With no movement(parked) and using a couple friends bounce the front end up and down and watch the inner fender and suspension parts that you've listed..This is a rough suspension test..Then using a helper on a parked car (key forward engine off) cycle steering wheel quickally back and forth,only far enough to make the steering parts hardly start to move..This is a rough steering test again look under the car on both sides look at tierod ends, rack ends or noises in the strut mount, look for the part that is moving with play ..Also cycle wheel all the way back and forth check for clearence of inner fender or any other tire obstructions.. Engine mount test, with vehicle running, hood open,foot on brake, shift from D to R.. Watch the engine as this is done look for engine movement, a very little movement is normal excessive engine movement can also make awkward noise in the exhaust and suspension parts.. GOOD LUCK..

mbsavalon · 02-27-2010, 08:29 AM

Had the same problem on wife's '97. Read about tightening strut mounting bolts, etc- everything on car seemed good and tight (125K miles at the time). I then checked brake pads- weren't completely gone but were original and worn, and seemed loose in the calipers. I replaced the front pads, left out the smaller shims that didn't seem to help hold the pads and used a good disc brake quiet compound instead. Haven't heard it since.

KeepItSimple · 02-27-2010, 10:40 AM

I was wondering if it might be the brakes. Thanks for the info!

jimolson · 03-11-2010, 08:15 PM

At 153k miles, give serious thought to replacing the struts and mounts, a common Avalon malady.

I don't think a static test of jumping on the bumper will always reveal worn struts or mounts. This method doesn't unload them sufficiently to create rattle.

I'd be surprised if any Toyota-branded suspension part would be affordable (or justified) for a 15 year old Avalon with 153k. Or that a non-Toyota vendor for these parts could screw 'em up worse than Toy's original vendor did in 1995.

Silicone sprays can't mute a substantive rattle.

The stiff ride of the 1995 was its virtue. The ride softening Toyota did in Gen II Avalons made them like Buicks.