tomstep2

I am having some sounds from the front end of our RX, every time we hit a small bump, it sounds like someone is dribbling a basketball under the hood. We have been told it is the strut caps or mounts.

I was told that beside being annoying, there is no safety issues. Does anyone know if this is true?

Is this common on the RX's? Is this something I can fix myself? I have a mechanic friend that says he will do it for $300, that includes parts and labor.

defo

iTrader: (6)

check your lower tie rod ends....mine made the same noises and I had to change them out....but the are fairly cheap...I think $40 for 2

salimshah

First figure out what is the real problem.

Noise can be from too many places.

Source of my annoying sound was near the radiator and close to the horn [the one in the way of the oil filter]. It took me weeks to figure out that the vertical reinforcement member underneath the horn was loose. I had to work blind but once the bolt got tightened, the noise was gone. My cost $0.00


Salim

Lexmex

I'd have someone observe the vehicle as you drive down a street and see if you can identify the sound that way. Helped a lot when I lived south of the border and had strange sounds.

code58

If it is in fact the upper strut mounts (and indeed you need to make sure of that before you have it done), that is a very fair price. Make sure he uses a good strut mount like KYB and that it includes the bearing. You can buy them with or without and it isn't much more for the complete mount. He or others will tell you that you need a front end alignment afterwards, but don't believe them unless you have other problems. There is nothing that they can adjust when the strut mounts are replaced, only toe adjustment and if the tires are wearing even and there is no pull and the steering wheel is straight, tell 'em to forget it (unless you have extra money that is weighing you down ) Good Luck!

You probably won't be able to replace them yourself because you need a spring compressor. No, it shouldn't be unsafe IF it is a strut mount, but from what you've described, it may be something else.