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Need Help Diagnosing Car Problem

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Fern

Fern

Elite Member
I suspect something with the suspension system. Problem is an annoying sound car makes when moving. Sounds like something made of metal is dangling below car and hitting/bouncing off stuff.

Does not make this noise when sitting still. But once you get to 5 or 10 mph it can be heard.

car is a 2001 camry, well maintained.

Just returned from +5,500 mile trip around USA. Lots of roadwork being done on interstates, am wondering if some hard knocks from uneven payment (warning: Bump Ahead etc) might have damaged something.

Have done quick check looking under car, nothing evident seen.

I suppose the next step is raising it on blocks and have a good look underneath.

Step #2 may be removing tires/wheels and looking around at suspension system.

Any suggestions on what it might be or how to proceed?

TIA

Fern
 
Little more description of the sound if you could. Is it a clanging/ringing sound or a dragging/scrapping sound, metal on metal, metal on rubber, metal on asphalt, etc? What kind of frequency does it occur; steady at all speeds or random? Volume or frequency proportional to speed? How loud is it? Can you feel it through the floor or is it just a barely audible noise that is driving you nuts, etc.

By the loose and dangling sound you described fro m under the car, I'd suspect something like exhaust system (notoriously low on Camry), loose sway bar, rattling brake shields or caliper pins, etc. A connector could have come loose and is bouncing on the road and coming back up and banging into things, need to narrow down the sound.
 
Almost sounds like a clamp on a CV boot has come off and is spinning around on one of the shafts.

Or, some foreign object has wrapped itself around one of the shafts and is spinning around, bouncing off the shaft.
 
Thanks guys. Sorry, I've been off-line for several days and couldn't respond.

exdeath: Years ago I had a U-Joint go out on a Merc I had at the time. The current sound reminds me a lot of that. I'm not very familiar with front wheel drive vehicles (or at least haven't worked on them to the extent I have with RWD). Do they even have a u-joint somewhere? Edit: Answer is no.

BTW: I've looked under the car, I can see nothing danglin/dragging etc.

boomerang: Good idea, I'll check the CV boot.

canadageek: Ya, I know it's not much to go on. Until I can pry the car away from wife and get it jacked up, the noise is about all I have to go on. 😱

funboy6942: I hope it's not the brakes, I just had that done about 6 months ago. Besides, I've heard that nasty sound before, and this is different.

Fern
 
Does this only occur when hitting bumps?

If so, your shocks and struts may be shot. Mine thunk and thump on a similar year Taurus.

Have you ever had your struts replaced?
 
I had what amounted to a rattling like it sounded like completely destroyed suspension on my van--as if each bump it threatened to rattle it all apart, turned out it was an old sway bar link. What you have described though isn't really a rattle, though.
 
Originally posted by: Pulsar
Does this only occur when hitting bumps?

If so, your shocks and struts may be shot. Mine thunk and thump on a similar year Taurus.

Have you ever had your struts replaced?
Click to expand...

No, just rolling along at low speed does it. I don't notice it at higher speed, but the raod noise may be too high.

So far I haven't noticed any pattern other than moving (doesn't happen at a stop).

Maybe that indicates I need to focus on drive train parts like axle or whatever. My unfamiliarlity with front wheel drives is not helping b😱

Maybe I should get some jack stands, get the wheels off the ground and have someone start the car and put it into drive? If it's a problem with the front wheels it may show up.

If it's rear wheels, maybe I should I drive up a hill in my neighborhood cut the engine and coast down a ways?

Fern
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
I had what amounted to a rattling like it sounded like completely destroyed suspension on my van--as if each bump it threatened to rattle it all apart, turned out it was an old sway bar link. What you have described though isn't really a rattle, though.
Click to expand...

I suppose I should check that as well.

Sorry, I can't describe the noise any better. Just something clanking around and has no clear pattern (like frequency increases with speed or bumps etc).

Fern
 
I could be way off here, but I had a similar noise with my Accord. It turned out to be a small rock wedged into the front rotor.
 
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