Just to start, I really know very little about cars. I love my 99 Accord and try to treat it well. I am having a huge problem with my mechanic not being able to fix a rattling noise coming from the front driver's side wheel well area. At first, it was rattling only a little. Now it is all of the time. I haven't had the sway bar bushings looked at yet as I have read a little about those in other posts. If I have my mechanic look, he'll just replace them whether it fixes it or not. My question is about the rattle. This almost sounds as if there is something in the fender. When I steer left or right or hit any type of blemish in the road, it almost sounds as if something is rolling around in the area of the strut. Can something get between the body and the frame? I looked and made sure everything was tight. Does anyone have an idea? My mechanic wants to replace my struts which were done less than 40K ago. I am sorry for the vague description. I will try to provide more details if I can come up with more. Thanks so much for any help.

 

... camera: record w/ video / sound and upload it to (host &) this site so we can hear it.

 

You are not alone as I too have a rattle in the driver's front on my 91 accord. Any blemish in the road and it sounds like metal on metal, not tinny like a thin shield and not heavy like a shock bushing. Braking, accelerating, hard corners do not affect the tone or pitch of the rattle. Sounds like a screw is about to come out allowing a bracket to rattle between 5 and 75MPH although wind noise drowns out the sound at higher speeds. Tapped all the suspension components with the car's weight on the suspension using a rubber mallet and thought I found it when a slight rattle was heard from the passenger's control arm, tightened it up and it is still there, bummer. Inspected all attachment points for the suspension and struts for signs of movement such as cracks in the paint and all it tight. Popped the hood and everything is tight but the radiator which kinds gives the plastic raddle sound, so I shimmed it to offer a slight load on it's rubber mounting bushings, and still no luck. Are there any smog components hidden within the front quarter that require finder removal? This is a 91 accord 2dr EX with 250k miles. Any suggestions are welcome, thank you, Pschoggens

 

Rattle and/or clunks that occur during turns are likely worn anti-sway bar bushings (end bushings). They are easy to inspect and confirm they are loose. Just trace sway bar from center to each end. Usually the rubber bushings are worn severely and can be easily seen.

good luck