Stupid bumping noise when driving

[LuckyTaxi]

Very noticeable bumping noise and vibration at low speed (less than 50mph).
I recall this one shop telling me my left strut was leaking but when I took it to Lexus they told me nothing was wrong w/ the car. I replaced the tires and rotors and the noise went away. Well, this was a year ago, now it's coming back. Lexus tells me my tires are feathered, hence the noise. I'm thinking of getting the tires balance. Possible maybe the metal things fell off the rim?

 

[Vette73]

Rule 1 of garage.


Make
Model
Year
Milage
Engine/Trans/body/etc... options

 

[LuckyTaxi]

doh ... should've known

2002/Lexus/IS300/110K

 

[Vette73]

Is it comeing from 1 side?
Have you moved the tires from one side to the other? Does the sound move with it?
Ever replaced the struts/strut mounts?

Any other issues the car has?

 

[AnnonUSA]

Feathered tires point directly at a suspension component. Strut is likely shot.... Struts usually stop leaking only when they are empty...

 

[tbike06]

Check the ball joints as well, those could definitely be causing the tire wear and noise.

 

[joesmoke]

why is the noise stupid

 

[MovingTarget]

I had a similar issue as well. Over time, it ended up maniesting at all speeds. I thought it was going to be a wheel bearing, but it ended up being the strut.

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: joesmoke
why is the noise stupid

It blows all its money on scratch tickets.

 

[exdeath]

Upper strut mount. When struts leak down they become ineffective at damping the spring and you get lots of oscillation (car handles like a water bed). When things are clunking around even before the strut gets that far and the tire is wearing badly, it's because the top of the strut isn't precisely located and the tire camber and caster is pretty much out of control and doing whatever it wants.