This noise gets pretty loud over bumps. I'm thinking its either a bad strut, ball joint, or cv axle. what is the best way to figure out which one is bad?

 

anybody?

 

STEP ONE:
Jack up car

STEP TWO:
Inspect ball joints
Inspect Axle
Inspect strut and spring assy
Inspect the control arm bushings
Inspect the sway bar end links

 

Also check motor mounts. I had a similar sounds and after the original dealership replaced almost everything in my front end....when to another dealership and service tech correctly diagnosis problem.

 

nice njmax lol

 

ok i checked all of the above and i narrowed it down to the strut
should i replace both struts or just the one? I checked napa and the told me $226 each
is that typical to be that pricy?

 

What? $226 for EACH? that's so damn expensive. just get tokico illuminas. i got mine $420 shipped for 1 set (2 front and 2 rear)

 

I would really recheck your sway bar end links usually that what makes the sound when going over bumps. my car was rattling even on the smallest bumps changed the end links and now very quiet over bumps. just a thought b4 you put all that money into struts!!!!

 

inner tie rod is what makes that noise for me...just about to replace it.

Greg

 

I have a similar noise coming from the driver's side. A little vibration going over the smallest bumps.

Newbie question coming up:
After jacking the car up, is it visually evident that the tie rods or end links are on their way out?

 

move them around...if they are loose feeling it needs to be replaced.