rattling noise in rear-- suspension? struts?

So I've got a noise in the rear of my 2000 Ford contour when I go over bumps, however, the rattle-like noise doesn't happen when the car bounces with a smoother dip. I've read some about it so it seems like it could be a bad strut bearing, wheel bearing, or something with the suspension. I don't know much about cars, but I'm good at following directions (ie: I replaced the starter on my girlfriend's Chevy nova and I replaced the ignition switchon my old mercury tracer using a chilton's) so I was hoping to get some ideas. any thoughts about what I could check?

Thanks!

Eric

this might be some help.

http://www.contour.org/FAQ/FAQ.php?s=probs&displayid=17