1997 Avalon with a bad rattle - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

mitymelvin · 01-23-2011, 04:18 PM

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone else has had issues with a bad rattle either in the suspension or in the wheel/ hub area? My wife's car has had a rattle for quite a while, but it has gotten worse in the last 3 or 4 months. I hear it anytime the wheel moves up or down, ie speed bump or pothole. I cant tell which wheel is making the noise( or maybe more then 1). Thanks for any ideas

pmesfun · 01-23-2011, 05:09 PM

Yup, I have that rattle also. Drives me insane.

So far I've replaced the struts and mounts, sway bar bushings and greased everything. STILL THERE. I'm thinking its either the control arm bushings or tie rods. Also for this tsb for front suspension noise.

mitymelvin · 01-23-2011, 07:26 PM

I hear alot of it toward the back. I tightened up the muffler hanger a while back. Also, I hear a squeak in the back when I push down on the back bumper to test the shocks or strutts. The front end noise is more with the car in motion. I dont know, but I am afraid it will be expensive

pmesfun · 01-23-2011, 09:20 PM

I never had a rattle in the rear, but I went ahead and replaced the sway bar bushings. That should get rid of the noise you hear. Used Energy Suspension Polyurethane Bushings.
http://www.energysuspensionparts.com...sp?prod=8.5120
Can't beat $6.99+plus shipping and it also comes in RED.

kevdude · 01-24-2011, 04:21 AM

Yep, welcome to the club! Just rebuilt my front end last year, and what a difference it made! Got lucky (so far) and haven't had to replace any struts yet, but the control arm bushings were shot, and it made a heckuva rattle every time I hit a bump. There's several options for the bushings, quite a few posts here on this very subject. Good luck!

fourwheeler · 01-24-2011, 08:22 PM

Also look at the sway bar links. Mine were horrible and it improved the noise immensely. I don't think anyone mentioned them yet.

pmesfun · 01-24-2011, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourwheeler

Also look at the sway bar links. Mine were horrible and it improved the noise immensely. I don't think anyone mentioned them yet.

I think you mentioned you used some $20 ones. Where'd you get them?

fourwheeler · 01-24-2011, 09:08 PM

I got them from a local parts supplier here in Grand Rapids called Motown Automotive. They were made in China but the price was right ~ $10 each. Better than the $65 Moog's. I have had them installed for about 3 months now and no complaints.

pmesfun · 01-24-2011, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourwheeler

I got them from a local parts supplier here in Grand Rapids called Motown Automotive. They were made in China but the price was right ~ $10 each. Better than the $65 Moog's. I have had them installed for about 3 months now and no complaints.

http://www.motownauto.com
Is this them?

fourwheeler · 01-25-2011, 05:06 PM

yup, that's them. Good prices and easy to work with, and close to work. can't go wrong.

mitymelvin · 01-31-2011, 09:48 AM

Well, I found the sqeak in the rear. Seems the parking brake shoes are so worn they jst barely touch the inside of the hub, so when I am parked with the brake on, it rubs and causes a metal on metal noise. Now on to find the rattle in the front