I'm having a problem, and I've had my car back to the shop 3 or 4 times. It started out as a barely audible sound but now it's almost constant. It's a rattle, almost sounds like as if I had metal hubcaps and they're rattling off the wheel. The sound is silenced when I apply the brakes. Does that help narrow the problem down?

So far I have a small list of tie rod, tie rod end, control arm, and strut mount as far as what it could be... Any ideas?

 

I think I've got the same 'problem.' I heara kind of fluttering (maybe wind) sound fromthe frontpassenger side...which also goes away during braking. Maybe the brakepads rattling alittle? Let me know what you turn up.

 

what happens when you let off the gas?? but dont apply the brake?? does the noise go away?

 

Can't speak for ViD...but for me it doesn't. In fact, it's easier to hearthat way since there's minimal engine noise. Also, the frequency of the sound doesn't seem to change with velocity either.

 

Sure its not your brake pads rattling in the caliper?

 

That was my guess too...but I'm having a hard time believing that would happen within the first 3k miles. It's worth a shot though...

 

If the caliper bushings are shot the whole caliper can rattle on bumps in the road. From what your describing I would check that first.

 

The sound I'm experiencing rarely has anything to do with how fast I am going... At first the sound was barely noticable, but me being used to driving 10 year old cars, I heard it right away. The shop couldn't find anything wrong with it but now it's really bad and I can sometimes even hear it when I'm not going over a bump and it sounds almost rotational if you know what I mean. I don't think it's my brake pads because I had my rims off and tried to wiggle the rotor and didn't get an excessive amount of play. When I did wiggle it made a smiliar sound to what I'm hearing during driving, but it's hard to compare between sitting in the driver's seat and siting on the garage floor right next to it.

I don't wanna take it to the stealership, and I'd like to have a basic idea of the problem so I don't get misled by whichever shop I take it to... If anyone has more ideas or if I need to be more specific, please let me know.

And thanks for the replies so far.

 

ViD, I brought my car to the stealers yesterday for a scheduled service...I told them to have a look. I'll let you what they've got to say. I still feel like we've got the same issue.

 

Now that I have re read your original post I see its only one side the noise comes from. Take a look at the lower rear control arm and check for play in the balljoint near the wheel. I found this on mine. There seemed to be no play side to side or regular ways of checking. Try moving the wheel from front to back and see if you have any play in it that way. Its hard to do. You almost need it on a lift and put your shoulder under it and move it back and forth from front to back.

Good Luck...