my 98 taurus has a rattle when it goes over an undulating surface. Does not rattle under braking or cornering unless road surface is not smooth. it sounds like a marble in a cardboard milk carton. no one can say with certainty if rattle is in front or back or both. the cars sees highway driving. 111,000 miles, excellent shape well maintained. all work done at Ford dealer using OEM parts. I've replaced all 4 McPherson struts. replaced both front strut bearing mounts, told backs were ok, replaced front end links, backs judged to be good. replaced ball joints. had subrfame bushing/bolts lubed and tighted. mechanics checked tie rods, controll arm, rack bushings, stabilizer bars front and rear bushings, brake calipers, exhaust system, spare tire hold down, gas tank straps and filler tube, battery and radiator bolts and all plastic tanks in engine bay. No play in steering wheel universal joint. can not find rattle. I'm running out of ideas. could it be the impact absorbing bumpers which are rattleing? never been in an accident. Help please!

You did not mention the swaybar to chassis bushings.

Only an idea. When I've had strange noises that I can't isolate I find a not too busy street with a solid wall right beside it. I get an assistant, roll down the windows and drive along the wall listening outside. Sometimes we can hear exactly where it is coming from.

my 98 taurus has a rattle when it goes over an undulating surface. Does not rattle under braking or cornering unless road surface is not smooth. it sounds like a marble in a cardboard milk carton. no one can say with certainty if rattle is in front or back or both. the cars sees highway driving. 111,000 miles, excellent shape well maintained. all work done at Ford dealer using OEM parts. I've replaced all 4 McPherson struts. replaced both front strut bearing mounts, told backs were ok, replaced front end links, backs judged to be good. replaced ball joints. had subrfame bushing/bolts lubed and tighted. mechanics checked tie rods, controll arm, rack bushings, stabilizer bars front and rear bushings, brake calipers, exhaust system, spare tire hold down, gas tank straps and filler tube, battery and radiator bolts and all plastic tanks in engine bay. No play in steering wheel universal joint. can not find rattle. I'm running out of ideas. could it be the impact absorbing bumpers which are rattleing? never been in an accident. Help please!

8/30/04 Reply to Flamingtaco. Yes, the sway bar bushings (stabilizer bars) were checked with the weight of the car on all four tires. No loosesness found. (That was one of my first suspicions as well. Rattle is still heard when stabilizer bars are loaded when car is going thru a corner.) still can't find the rattle. thanx for the reply. any other ideas?

A rattle unaffected by braking and accelleration tends to be a swaybar to body bushing or a loose front endlink, hence my question. Since everything has been checked, about the only thing you can do is to start replacing parts.

A rattle unaffected by braking and accelleration tends to be a swaybar to body bushing or a loose front endlink, hence my question. Since everything has been checked, about the only thing you can do is to start replacing parts.

Thanx for the reply. I have suspected the same, but the dealer insists its not the bushings. they did replace the front end links. I plan on taking it to a front end shop who has chassis ears. If they can find it I'll let you know what it turned out to be, thanx