front end chattering
 

My 96 ES (90k) over the past 6 mos. began vibrating and chattering in the front end up and down and side to side after driving over a short stretch of rough road at over 50 mph. I pulled over, shut off the engine checked the tires, got back in and drove off with no further vibrations. The last time, I pulled over but I didn't shut the engine off and it continued to vibrate even at low speeds so I pulled over again and shut the engine off, restarted and continued with no vibrations. My mechanic could find nothing wrong with tires or linkages, etc. Any ideas?
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RE: front end chattering
 

the most common things on the suspension vibration issues are
the steering rack bushings, control arm bushings,
tie rod ends, worn or cupped tires
but tires would always make noise
you can lift your front end up with a jack
put jack stands under the front control arms
be careful to position them well enough not the fall
then give a tug on the tire in two motions
pull tire back and forth from top to bottom(up/dowwn)
and the same for side to side (left/right)

if you feel any loosness ,
you know you got a problem with the suspension or steering
and you can trace the movement back to the bad part

RE: front end chattering
 

thanks. I'm having a bad axel replaced. I'll have the mechanic check the bushings and tie rod ends.

I recently purchased a '97 ES300, and have a constant "chattering" in the front end. It happens on even smooth roads. It seems that if the car is moving, there is this chatter. It comes from both sides of the front end it seems. Another blog said it was rubber bushings on the strut shocks and could be fixed with silicon spray. This action was futile.
Has anyone had this same problem and actually FOUND a cure? The car has 180K on it.

rockinron
 

No one has mentioned that "my" problem may be with the struts...?
The next opportunity I have, I will get the whole suspension off the ground and do the testing that has been suggested.
Someone told me there is a (pivot) located in the top of the strut (that can't be seen)... Could this be the cause?
Surely, someone has heard this chatter before...
If I am not mistaken, I believe my old '93 Corolla made this same type chatter at about 190K. (Never fixed) Please HELP!

I'll have the mechanic check the bushings and tie rod ends. http://addled.info/g.gif