how do you know if its strut or strut mounts?

[hoonami]

it's been almost 3 months since front suspension started making noise from driver side. i've done a test(rocking the front and see if strut are okay) and it seemed okay to me. but everytime i go over a speed bump or uneven roads it makes rattling noise(like something is broken). can someone tell me how to determine if it's the strut or strut mounts? or could this be somethingelse?

[2loud2k2xd]

grab the top of the tire (on the ground) and try to move in in and out. then do the same but on the sides of the tire. any movement. also check your sway bar end links, tie rods, and cv joints. does the noise happen when your driving while tirning a corner?

[CRAZIECRACKER]

that rattle is a blown bushing/bearing...ive had this happen to me on a previous vehicle...when u hit a really bad pot hole or the struts are just too old, they bust or break. its your strut for sure, try to look at the strut and look at where it moves in and out...see if theres anything loose, usually they are made of medal and it will be totally out of the strut...

maybe i should of explained this a little better?

[DJ Hellfire]

The problem may not even be suspension related. It could be that the little support ring on the exhaust flexpipe has rusted and broken off and is rattling on the pipe. If it is suspension related and it's definitely a rattle and not a knock/clunk, I'd say it's a sway bar link. Bad struts/mounts, balljoints, or tie-rods, it will be a knocking noise.

[hoonami]

i am sorry guys... it is more like clunking(clanking??) noise

[Matrixloader]

fist of all, have you looked under you car to see if there is anything in the suspension that is busted or leaking?

check for torn bushings, leaking struts, torn cv-boots, jack up the front of your car and rock the tires back and fort to see if you have a bad tie rod.

[2loud2k2xd]

grab the top of the tire (on the ground) and try to move in in and out. then do the same but on the sides of the tire. any movement. also check your sway bar end links, tie rods, and cv joints. does the noise happen when your driving while tirning a corner?

fist of all, have you looked under you car to see if there is anything in the suspension that is busted or leaking?

check for torn bushings, leaking struts, torn cv-boots, jack up the front of your car and rock the tires back and fort to see if you have a bad tie rod.


:nosthumbs

[DJ Hellfire]

Just take it to a shop for a front end check. Most non-dealer shops do free front end checks. It's kinda hard to tell you what exactly to look/feel for over the net since it's so much **** it could be.