tons of new fromt end stuff. still rattling.

[johnMZ24]

Iv had a knocking noise while going over small bumps since i bought the car, so last weekend i decided to buy new kyb struts, new springs from the dealer(all front) and new strut mounts. I put them in and while i was doing that i seen the balljoints were really bad( lots of up and down play) so i replaced both sides of them. New swaybar links and bushings to. New ceramic pads and rotors. Put it all together and the steering is alotttt better and the noises are gone except there seems to be another rattle( sounds like bad balls joints or swaybar links) went for a nic3 long ride and ade sure everything was tight and it was. Theres no exhaust sheilds or anything i can see that can be non suspention related. I checked the lca's but they didnt have play either..im lost on what to do. The only think i can think of is when i turn if im stoped theres a shutter in the steering wheel and i can here it underneither so im guessing the steering rack bushing?

[shoguy]

I have had a very similar thing with my 98 outback. I replaced pretty much all the same things and also ended up with a noise in the suspension, twice... the first time I found it to be the pinch bolts for the ball joints. The new ones came with new bolts, but the threads in the spindles were in pretty bad shape. As the bolts were tightened, the threads would tighten before the bolt would pinch the joint tight. I tapped out the threads and tightened it all down, it was quiet for a couple weeks, then another new noise showed up, this was a louder rattle when the suspension would articulate. I found that the sway bar link upper bolts had slightly loosened and the bar/bolt/link would be tight enough to hold under light movement, but as soon as a good force is put against it, it would jump from the top end of the slop to the bottom end of the slop and making a hellashious noise. I replaced the end links with the whiteline links with the locking nuts, much better! I would highly recemmend fresh locknuts on the sway bar links any time they are replaced.

[rkrenicki]

Sounds like the LCA bushings, likely the front ones. It only takes a tiny amount of play to cause a noise. It may be undetectable during your inspection of them.

[johnMZ24]

I drilled out the pinchbolts and put new bolts and stuff on there. Im going to try the links you were saying worked. Also is worse comes to worse im going to buy the whole lower control arm and replace it.

[98legwag]

My wagon made a small tapping/rattling noise over bumps when the tie rods were going bad. Try those. You can check them by putting the car on ramps then pulling on them to see if there is any play in them. You should be able to feel and hear it if there is.

[johnMZ24]

My outer tierods boot is bad. I can check later. But i did notice the inner one moves up and down a very little. Idk if theres supposta be play or not