Front end sounds loose
 

Just wondering if anyone else has the same noise when going at slow speeds 10 to 20km over a gravel road the front end sounds like something is loose, but on tarmac is nothing, just wondering if it does it on rough surfaces due to suspension being so stiff.

What kind of sound?
I've been hearing a little rattle lately and my car is stock.

Does It sound like metal in a can?

I think I know what you're talking about. I do get it on my building cobblestone driveway.

Car is stock to has done it from brand new and when first brought it home even said to me brother sounds like something is loose in the front end, does sound a bit like metal in a can but not that load.

I live on a dirt/gravel road and my car, now at 4.5k definitely has started to sound like it is loose in the front end. Sounds kind of like bad ball joint or something in the front suspension.

^^ Yup have heard the same noise on both my cars, new one is still under 2000km.

Perhaps we should include Auto or Manual as I found out the noise is slightly louder if I hold the clutch in (ie when going over a speed bump)?

I get it too :( 11k here.

Just claim warranty. When at the dealer just duplicate the problem and then they will take care of it.

Not a lot of rocky/gravel roads near my dealer.

Technicians get paid to take test drives even if its on a particular road. Don't feel bad and take advantage.

I have this issue. Had it checked with the dealer, unfortunately they can't find anything. Everything is "tight" according to them. So what is this then?

Do you go faster than 10-20 on the gravel and it goes away? Cause there is a metal plate under the engine, if gravel is being kicked up and hits it, it will sound the way you describe, have had it on roads that are having work done.


*** Like rocks in a can

I get this sound and feeling in the steering when driving on gravel (parking lot, road, drive way). The only thing that comes to mind is maybe some excess back lash in the rack and pinion and electric power steering mechanism? It's not noticeable on pavement. So I don't know for sure what it is.

I've had this problem lately and it has been driving me nuts!

I finally fixed it last Friday and after holding my breath all weekend and my drive to work today, I can say the noise is gone. I found that the three nuts holding the tophats to the strut towers were about 1/2 turn to 1 turn loose. Gave them the goodntite and the noise is completely gone. YMMV, but this turned out to be my problem.

The three nuts? Imma check this out tomorrow. Hope to get good results...

These nuts have a very low torque spec be careful or you will shear the heads off. Iirc it's something like 14.5 ft/lbs (you should go look it up).

I kinda feel like this has something to do with the gearbox...

Gravel constantly shifts under a car's weight, making the steering feel a bit....indirect. It's especially noticeable on cars like this (Miata does the same thing with feeling like it's loose)


The sound, no idea, but could easily be normal.

I have the same issue, have checked for anything loose on the front suspension, from swaybar endlinks to subframe bolts and have found nothing. My old Honda with 250,000 miles on it doesn't do anything like it.

I have suspicions that the skid plate may be "oilcanning" and my try taking the plate off to see if the noise/feeling persists.

Any new update on this issue? I still have this on my unit. Can't figure out where it is coming from. Dealership checked everything and is all tight down there.. sigh..

Any updates? I get this also, both on corrugated surfaces and very heavy braking. My 86 only has 2000 km.

I will try taking off the plates next week. Let's see what happens...

Well? did that work? :D