when i pull onto gravel or over a bump in general my front end makes ratteling noise espically on gravel. are my shocks bad? what could it be? any clues?

 

how many miles?

 

like 53k

 

it's an american-made econo car. get used to them. My car rattles all the time, and it only gets worse as the weather gets colder (things shrink and loosen)

 

i cannot agree anymore with rage... and i have the 06ss/sc... as it gets colder it gets more raddle... until driving for about 10-15 minutes... its like the shocks and what not have to get a warm up also. because eventually it goes away. but from a cold start just yea... and i only have 29k on the dash and i BABY the hell out of my balt and def the suspension in general

 

yup yup... my car gets at least 10 minutes every morning to warm up before I drive it anywhere. If my car sits for any longer than 2 hours I let it warm up first.

 

stabalizer bar links rattle.

 

i'm not even talking about the motor... everyone knows motor's need warm up time regardless... however the suspension needs warm up... sounds VERY STUPID just even saying it i'm like wtf am i talking about... however it's weird but true. after 10-15 minutes of driving the rattling noise goes away... and coming home also driving on the SAME terrain as when i left. after the car is already been driving etc... it doesnt make any rattling noise... just on cold starts

 

HEY!!!

I had the exact same problem on my '06.. took it the local dealership and they found out that a bolt fell out of the control arm on the right side. At first the knocking sound wasn't too bad, but that was before the bolt actually fell out, it was just a little loose. When it fell out I was scared to go over 40 mph..

 

my ratteling doesnt go away it just sounds like my front end is gonna fall appart. its mostly on gravel and im like creeping on gravel

 

some one just said it the swaybar drop links. Spend bucks and get the powergridinc ones excellent all weather quality last forever, or put oem new back on but they dont last forever

 

Everybody should do this regardless. Should be common sense.

 

i think it relates to the clunk when turning going slow on a bump thing... check the control arm bushings, sway bar links.... i think chevy keeps saying its the intermediate shaft..its not....

 

No, no its not.....10 minutes its far too long a warm up.


Yeah Cobalts dont really have the I-shaft issues like the bigger cars do, its almost always steering column, LCA bushings popping out of the arm, or sway bar links

 

I have had the same problem... (locating the noise). One moment it seems to be coming from left side. next bump it seems to be coming from the right..... Will a decent old school mechanic be able to hunt this down? ,or am I subject by a dealer taking 6 trips to figure it out?..Also I do not believe(firmly) that the noise is from the steering coumn. It is down low in the front suspension.. any help?

 

redlines had an intermediate shaft recall.....or tsb......it may come from that; i would bet droplinks

 

I'd wager its the swaybar link..could also be a steering column issue. I've seen both of those being replaced for similar complaints

 

hey man i posted a comment earlier on this subject. i brought my balt into the dealer and said i have some loose rattling noise from the front end... anywho they ordered me 2 new front strut mounts... so check those while your looking around in there... warranty rocks!