Front end noise - Intrepid 99
 

My 1999 Intrepid has a rather unusual problem (which currently has
72,000 miles on the odometer) that has been bothering me since I
bought it a year ago. It was intermittent but now its more often than
not. There seems to be an odd clacking noise in the front end, and I
can't figure out what's been causing it.
The clacking sound usually occurs (on the passenger's side I suppose)
when I hit bumps or dips on the road regardless of speed but recently
I started hearing it while driving in a straight street at 30 mph. It
is the same clacking noise but a prolonged one. It looks like a loosen
part hitting another.
I've had two mechanics look at this problem since March, and neither
of them could find anything wrong (the noise went away at the
inspection times). Both of them said that the suspension components
seem to be tight and in good order.
I'm stumped as to what may be causing this noise. If I have my car
jacked up what should I look at? Can I figure out what the problem is
by simply touching the front end parts?
I'd also like to know -- is this normal for the car's old age, or is
it a sign of a major failure waiting to happen?

Front end noise - Intrepid 99
 

My '98 Dodge Stratus has had a rattle in the front end ever since I
bought it and I determined it was the brake calipers. However, mine
hasn't changed in the eight years and 100,000+ miles I have owned it.
Since yours is getting worse I suspect something is coming loose. If the
suspension is tight then perhaps it is something like a loose bumper
attachment bolt, alternator bracket, etc. It could also be the sway bar
links are worn out. Take a rubber mallet and tap around to see if
something is loose. If the car had any repairs prior to your buying it I
would suspect those areas first.

wrote:
> My 1999 Intrepid has a rather unusual problem (which currently has
> 72,000 miles on the odometer) that has been bothering me since I
> bought it a year ago. It was intermittent but now its more often than
> not. There seems to be an odd clacking noise in the front end, and I
> can't figure out what's been causing it.
> The clacking sound usually occurs (on the passenger's side I suppose)
> when I hit bumps or dips on the road regardless of speed but recently
> I started hearing it while driving in a straight street at 30 mph. It
> is the same clacking noise but a prolonged one. It looks like a loosen
> part hitting another.
> I've had two mechanics look at this problem since March, and neither
> of them could find anything wrong (the noise went away at the
> inspection times). Both of them said that the suspension components
> seem to be tight and in good order.
> I'm stumped as to what may be causing this noise. If I have my car
> jacked up what should I look at? Can I figure out what the problem is
> by simply touching the front end parts?
> I'd also like to know -- is this normal for the car's old age, or is
> it a sign of a major failure waiting to happen?
>