Front suspension rattle

[Graeme]

My 2012 vehicle has had a front suspension rattle (primarily RHS) for some time, at least from when it had only done 25K (now 36K). The rattle occurs when just rolling over a bump either forwards or backwards and at speed on gravel or sealed back-roads. Wriggling the steering wheel does not induce the rattle, the bushes don't appear to be damaged and the suspension and sub-frame bolts/nuts are too tight for me to tighten further. The rear/upper arm sub-frame bushes have been hitting their internal bump-stops but as the rattle also occurs in reverse, I doubt the bushes are to blame.

The sub-frame was R&R'd prior to my taking delivery of the vehicle at 19K kms to install the revised secondary turbo drain pipe but its mounting bolts have been checked for tightness.

Any suggestions?

[justinc]

Strut top bearing? Is it ok on the highway on les sharp bumps? Worse at low speed on sharp bumps?

Jc

[Graeme]

Thanks JC.

I hadn't previously noticed it other than up to around 60 kph on my driveway due to a significant tyre-related reverberation also from the RF area that's now fixed. I had thought that tyre/road noise on gravel roads was quite bad but now think its the rattling, perhaps from movement fore and aft rather than up and down. I'll try to establish if it stops whilst braking.

It's emanating from down low - floor level rather than the base of the windscreen, as though there's a dodgy ball joint on the rear arm. I'll speak with the mechanic who changed the wheel bearing but thought he would have commented if it was at all loose. Some months ago the RF wheel hit a small rut at around 50 kph that caused quite a loud bang - these vehicles' suspensions aren't insulated from the body by a separate chassis!

[chaybra]

I have had the same issue for a while, and whilst I have not rectified this myself, its my understanding that it is the sway bar ball joints.
I have changed most of the bushes in my front end as well as the struts due to a bag blow out, all with no change.

[Graeme]

With the rattle starting with no more than about 25K on the clock, its hard to imagine a worn-out ball-joint. However its easy to remove a sway-bar link so I'll do that - thanks.

Have you replaced your sway-bar links?

I have tried to rock the vehicle but without a bull-bar there's nothing to grab. The CVDs are quite stiff unless softened under ecu control so not easy to get any movement.

[chaybra]

I have not removed mine yet to test, the noise doesnt bother me that much and because i have replaced most other parts, I am not worried my wheel will fall off either.

[Graeme]

It's not the sway-bar link - the rattle was still there with the link removed.

JC - have you replaced top bearings? The parts catalogue doesn't show them as a separate part but that only means that LR doesn't supply it. Mine has CVDs but I doubt that makes any difference.

I fitted some sticks as spacers in the front gap in the rear bush and the rattle was a lot worse - I'm still pondering the possible reasons but can't get past the thought that the ball joint is rattling.

I need to have someone walk alongside to determine if the noise is from the top or the base of the strut or from the rear bush.

[justinc]

With the bonnet up and the strut nut cover off get them to put their hand on top of the strut as you drive slowly along. Thats how i have isolated them in the past.

Jc ☺

[Graeme]

When checking the nut for tightness I was surprised at how readily the shaft turns. Does the nut clamp rubber bushes?

[justinc]

I can't be sure though i doubt it. Never had one apart yet...iirc there is a preassembled bearing arrangement and this is possibly where this issue arrises from. The design may be flawed as Arnotts in the usa have gone to the trouble of developing a new design strut top which comes in their new airspring replacement kits.😕
Jc

[Graeme]

After 3 years and more than 60K kms I've finally fixed the metallic rattle on the driver's side that has occurred at slower speeds on bumpy surfaces. The outer shell of the bush on the rear arm was contacting the chassis bracket when the wheel was pushed back by a bump because of insufficient clearance between the bush's centre and the outer shell, due to the centre being offset to the outer shell. Skimming the edge of the bush with an angle grinder to provide more clearance did the trick. I could not see a mark on either the bracket or the bush where contact was made and there appeared to be plenty of static clearance to avoid contact, but a hefty kick of the wheel caused the clang at that point.

The thumping from both sides persists but there is at least a 5 mm gap between the bump pad forward of the centre section and the centre section of both left and right bushes whereas there is no gap in pictures of new bushes. Time for new bushes!

[Graeme]

New Lemforder rear (upper arm?) bushes in both sides has cured the previously constant rattle over small bumps. The originals were significantly worse than they appeared.

[Graeme]

Strut top bearing? Is it ok on the highway on les sharp bumps? Worse at low speed on sharp bumps?

Jc
The top bearing on the replaced left air-spring certainly rattles if the air-spring is shaken! The replacement not nearly so but it could contain grease that is damping its looseness.

[Graeme]

The rattle was caused by a worn ball-joint in the RF forward suspension arm. The rattle that has existed since I purchased the vehicle 3 years ago with under 19K kms on the odometer is no longer - silence is golden!