Have a problem with my car that's driving me nuts.

When cruising along with the windows down I can hear a mettalic rattling sound whenever I go over a rough patch of road. It seems to be coming from the front passenger side. My first thought was a loose heat shield somewhere so I had a good look under the car shaking the exhaust and tapping sections of it but i couldn't replicate the sound. Took it out for a drive just then and it seems almost as if it's coming from the front passenger side wheel well.

Could worn out shocks in the strut assembly be making the sound? The only other thing I can think of that may be causing it is a busted cat, but when I'm under the car and give it a shake and a tap, it makes little sound at all. Car has done 155k.

yep they sure can fairly common as well

You've just described exactly what I've been noticing on my TF in the last few weeks. It's a very low dull rattle - doesn't sound metallic, almost like it's a loose bit of trim but it isn't. On smooth road, it's not there. But, my dampers are only around 45,000k's old.

Good job I'm replacing all 4 ends in the next month or 2.

Regards, Tony

More common for it to be strut top bushes, but yes, struts can rattle, particularly inserts.

Regards, Andrew.

Have a look at your sway bay D bushes, they were the culprit on my car

mine sounds like a squeaking sound comming from the front, i thought it was my VRX bumper supports, as there is a lot of metal brackets and stuff holding it all together

I would check your sway bar and rack bushes.

for sure, check the sway bar link pin and "D" bushes, shockies will definately rattle internally from the valving in them, might be worth giving it the old bounce test too, push down on the car and see if it keeps bouncing, if the shocks are working correctly it should pretty well come to rest straight away, keep in mind that they can be noisy and still work well but the noise (if it is from the shocks) is a pretty good indication that it's time for new ones, cheers, Mick

Have a problem with my car that's driving me nuts.

When cruising along with the windows down I can hear a mettalic rattling sound whenever I go over a rough patch of road. It seems to be coming from the front passenger side. My first thought was a loose heat shield somewhere so I had a good look under the car shaking the exhaust and tapping sections of it but i couldn't replicate the sound. Took it out for a drive just then and it seems almost as if it's coming from the front passenger side wheel well.

Could worn out shocks in the strut assembly be making the sound? The only other thing I can think of that may be causing it is a busted cat, but when I'm under the car and give it a shake and a tap, it makes little sound at all. Car has done 155k.

Holy crap i have this exact same issue. I can drive over white painted lines and i will hear the rattle. My struts are all less than a year old but recently i had the cv boots done and ever since i got the car back from the mechanic its been making this sound. When i put my hand through the spokes of my rims i can grab hold of the brake caliper and rattle it back and forth against the brake rotor, and i am almost certain this is the noise i hear when i drive. Is there a return spring or something that should be holding the caliper in place better? I'm sure that when i get back from long drives i can smell the brakes just on that one side as if i've been riding the brake, i reckon the pads are touching all the time cause of this issue.

Anyone heard of this or got a suggestion as to whether there should be anything there that could be missing? Might help kj.ei with his issue as well....

Sounds like one of the retaining brackets that hold the pads may of come out. Like an anti rattle shim of sorts.