Can you ID this sound?

[JBF]

So - I've had this annoying rattle for years, it gets better and worse. Generally only hear it with the window down, turning hard left - particularly if the road surface isn't great. Sometimes hear it going slowly over speed bumps if they are aggressive ones. Never heard it turning right or when generally driving around at speed.

Seems to be coming from front right of the car (I'm in the UK so right hand drive vehicle).

I've tried to make a recording of the sound:

http://www.justinfielding.co.uk/Site...5%20Rattle.m4a
http://www.justinfielding.co.uk/Site...Rattle%201.m4a


I figured it was the CV joint and eventually got around to changing the right hand driveshaft assembly today. Also changed the track rod end as the hole in the rod had rounded out meaning I couldn't fully remove or re-tighten the bolt (which I ended up cutting off).

Rattle is still there. Really can't fathom what it is. I've been trawling forums for suggestions. Most frequently suggested items for the front end are the CV joint, bearing or swaybar tie rods. CV joint has been replaced with the axle, from what I read bearings make a lot of noise and it's usually present when driving normally, not just in certain circumstances. Swaybar ties - no idea what that would sound like but I wouldn't expect it to sound like this

[JBF]

Links will be the originals so will have 107k miles on them. Wouldn't be a bad idea to change them but I don't think they could be the source of this sound - it's more of a rotational scraping/rattling sound rather than a knocking or clunking.

I was thinking that perhaps the brake disk is catching on the rear guard in certain circumstances but then that wouldn't explain the rattle. It's very odd. I would change the bearing but I imagine it's a pain to do and will require some kind of puller/press.

I'm selling the car soon so I could just ignore this - it doesn't happen all the time and it's been making that noise on/off for 3-4 years with no apparent ill effects. I just didn't want to sell it on knowing 'something' isn't quite right. Could have sworn it was the CV joint but it clearly isn't.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by JBF

Links will be the originals so will have 107k miles on them. Wouldn't be a bad idea to change them but I don't think they could be the source of this sound - it's more of a rotational scraping/rattling sound rather than a knocking or clunking.

I was thinking that perhaps the brake disk is catching on the rear guard in certain circumstances but then that wouldn't explain the rattle. It's very odd. I would change the bearing but I imagine it's a pain to do and will require some kind of puller/press.

I'm selling the car soon so I could just ignore this - it doesn't happen all the time and it's been making that noise on/off for 3-4 years with no apparent ill effects. I just didn't want to sell it on knowing 'something' isn't quite right. Could have sworn it was the CV joint but it clearly isn't.

Sounds like a bad wheel bearing. You can verify this by jacking up the car and grabbing the wheel at the 9 and 3 o'clock position and see if there is any play. If the wheel has any play when you shake it but the tie rod doesn't move significantly you have a bad wheel bearing.

[JBF]

Will I need a bunch of expensive tools to change it?