bosox

chadmg7 is correct. The strut mounts must be replaced. This problem was present in some 2000 models as well. Lexus has since redesigned the shape of the rubber in the mounts to corrct this probelm.

I'm curious to know where you had the struts replaced. Was it at the dealer? If so, the dealer should have known about the cause of this known problem.

Kauz

Thanks all!! The struts were not replaced at the dealer. It will go to the dealer to have the mounts replaced though!! ;)

Thanks all for racking your brains on this. I was thinking struts all the way until she had them replaced and the noise is still there. Maybe strut mounts or ball joints...I just thought that at the time the struts were replaced ...any other issue would have been identified.

Go figure...

thanks again... if anyone has any other opinions...bring 'em on!!

Can you define the rattle a little better? Is it a light and tinny sound? A deep clunky sound? Does it just rattle all the time while driving, or does it rattle only when going over bumps and such?

It's a deeper clunckier sound that is exaserbated by bumps in the road...but again ... it goes away when the car warms up.

thanks

Hello:

My wife bought a '99 ES about three years ago. When the weather gets chilly/cold there is a pronounced rattle in the front end. It sounds concentrated in the wheel wells. The rattle goes away after the car warms up (5 minutes)....but it's pretty loud until that time. She had new struts put in last October and the sound is still there.

Friends of ours have a '00 ES and it does the same thing. Both of our service folks don't seen to have an answer.

Common issue? Fixes? Anyone's input would be appreciated

thanks