Mysterious front end rattle

[nicecar]

joe die you do drop links, upper strut mounts ?

[Joe hockin]

I changed the strut bearings and re-used the mounts (as they looked and felt perfect)
I disconnected the sway bar to diagnose but the clackety clack persisted. It sounds like loose brake pads...I 've cleaned everything and put blue permatex stop squeal on the back of all of the pads (the fronts had the interlocking piston shims ..the rear doesn't) However, I re-used the anti-rattle springs after cleaning, inspecting, and bending them a bit...everything feels tight.

[nicecar]

clacking for me was drop links very common. i have not replaced struts or strut mounts. the mounts were replaced with used ones now these knock when cold. thats why i think we need struts ....rattling over cracks at low speeds . like the previous posts say basically have to replace whole suspension. get this, i even replaced the rack.oh well i am going back at it soon as the dust settles.....recently spent 7000 ims flywheel rear brakes rotors front tires 2 alignment droplinks inner and outer tie rods heat shield deleat,strut berrings. remodeling garage because for things external i will be doing ,like the muffler that rattles because of bad baffles? even that is not definitely the culpret. i guess this just deserves a chuckle, i think many people would love to have our rattle

[Joe hockin]

Hey,
I think I've cracked the clack. Took out the front track arms (super easy) and put them in a vise to check for play. None to be had. Applied a bit of heat with a heat gun. Once warmed up: clackety clack clack. This fits the profile. I let you know once I replace them.

[nicecar]

clack over bumps low speed? bad news for me is i replaced all 4 arms w/ used so if i change the struts and put new mounts and problem exists, i have bad lower control arms not cheap thats why i went used we shall see... let me know soon. what about the drop links ? my clack was at higher speed for the drop links

[Joe hockin]

Track arms replace, rattle gone. Applying heat to check for play was the key. Sanity restored!

[mountainman]

can you clarify what you are calling the track arms. In looking around, I have found 3 different suspension parts that different individuals are calling track arms. Also where did you get yours and how pricy were they. This sounds like the noise I have in my C4 with 74K miles and my 04 boxster S with 54K.