I would love to get some ideas re this problem from anyone out there. I own an 85 308 and have had it since new. In the past two to three years, I notice what sounds like stones rolling around in the front end of the car. After a few miles of driving, the noise is gone. The warmer the weather, the faster the noise goes away. My mechanic thinks it could be the shocks. The car has 29k miles and the shocks are original. Any ideas? Thanks much, Denny
Could be just about anything from your description. Some more specifics about when it happens might make it easier. Does it only happen when going over bumps, or around corners, or at a certain speed? Could be shocks, bushings, sterring rack, or just about any other front end part. Of course it could really be rocks rolling around inside your front air dam too but I wouldn't expect that noise to go away based on temp.
Only at start up do I get this noise and while driving over rougher surfaces. Again, When the car warms up, the noise is gone. I did check for rocks!
Did you try to jack up the car, remove the wheels, look underside, behind front valence, wheel suspension for something obvious?
Sorry, wasn't trying to be smart with the rocks comment, just trying to cover it all. If your mechanic thinks it's the shocks I'd tend to agree with him although I'd look at the A-arm bushings too.
+1. Get the wheel/end in question up on jacks and grab the wheel, testing for play in any plane. Not sure about the components of the OEM shock system of your car but as Jdub said earlier, could be anything up front; there are bushings, seats, etc that could making noises.
John, I knew you were kidding about the rocks! Thanks for the suggestions. I heard the bushings shrink over the years in the shocks and will expand when they get warm. That might explain the noise when I initially drive the car and the reason for the dissapearance after a few miles.
