95 taurus...got front and back struts put in but still sounds front end is loose

[Athenas83]

I took my car to the mechanic, and they put new struts all around. But I still hear something rattling in the front end. Do you have any ideas of what it could be?? Thanks!

athena

[excidere]

Swaybar endlinks, Strutmounts, The dashboard? any number of things rattle in the front end of a taurus it would take more information as to the origin of the rattle... I would check the endlinks, on my '95 I acctually had a brake caliper mount bolt fall out and it was jiggilin all around... so hope that helps

[shorod]

What year is your Taurus? The front suspension design changed in '96 I believe. I don't believe any of the Taurii had sway bar endlinks per se, but swaybar bushings could be dry/polished causing your noise, or the control arm bushings could be causing it, strut mounts could do it, and so could subframe mounts.

I'm assuming your mechanic verified there were no loose parts in the front end and aligned your car after replacing the struts, right, so we can rule out the obvious things like tie rod ends (inner or outer) and ball joints?

-Rod
'98 Taurus SHO
'93 Dodge Stealth twin turbo

Originally Posted by Athenas83

I took my car to the mechanic, and they put new struts all around. But I still hear something rattling in the front end. Do you have any ideas of what it could be?? Thanks!

athena

[shorod]

Sorry, I see you listed the year in your subject line. Oops. That front suspension design uses a narrow lower control arm, I believe. If you replace the ball joint, you also get a new control arm and bushing.

Originally Posted by shorod

What year is your Taurus? The front suspension design changed in '96 I believe. I don't believe any of the Taurii had sway bar endlinks per se, but swaybar bushings could be dry/polished causing your noise, or the control arm bushings could be causing it, strut mounts could do it, and so could subframe mounts.

I'm assuming your mechanic verified there were no loose parts in the front end and aligned your car after replacing the struts, right, so we can rule out the obvious things like tie rod ends (inner or outer) and ball joints?

-Rod
'98 Taurus SHO
'93 Dodge Stealth twin turbo

[excidere]

[quote=shorod]What year is your Taurus? The front suspension design changed in '96 I believe. I don't believe any of the Taurii had sway bar endlinks per se, but swaybar bushings could be dry/polished causing your noise, or the control arm bushings could be causing it, strut mounts could do it, and so could subframe mounts.

Acctually I had a '96 gl and now own a '95 se and a '90 sho and they all have swaybar endlinks on the front suspension.

[shorod]

Yep, you're right. I must have been thinking back to the old Tempos and Escorts where the anti-swaybar was bolted to the control arm. The Taurus uses that goofy plastic end link to connect to the strut. My apologies.

-Rod

[quote=excidere]

Originally Posted by shorod

What year is your Taurus? The front suspension design changed in '96 I believe. I don't believe any of the Taurii had sway bar endlinks per se, but swaybar bushings could be dry/polished causing your noise, or the control arm bushings could be causing it, strut mounts could do it, and so could subframe mounts.

Acctually I had a '96 gl and now own a '95 se and a '90 sho and they all have swaybar endlinks on the front suspension.