[nondem]

Several people including myself have described a mystery sound my truck makes when going down a bumpy road. The sound has been accurately described to be like a tennis ball in a cardboard box being shaken. It seemed tied to wheel movement up and down - not to the body of the truck itself.
I looked extensively for it with the truck fully assembled and found nothing....I'm in the middle of putting new struts on the truck among other things and found the source of the sound. Not only that, I think I figured out why it doesn't make the sound when new and even later it only makes the sound on some of the trucks.
Here is the culprit:
51722-SJC-A02 RUBBER, FR. BUMP STOP
It's number 12 on this diagram.

It's basically a cylinder of rubber that slides on the strut shaft to make a soft landing when the suspension bottoms out. I believe it's either glued or press fit into the "Bump stop sleeve"(Number 10 in the diagram) which is held at the top of the strut assembly normally. On trucks that make the sound, it comes loose and basically bounces up and down riding on the strut shaft making the mystery sound. Thats the theory anyway...Nothing else could make the noise I've been hearing. I don't think there are any negative effects beyond the sound itself, but I'm considering ways to eliminate the noise anyway...it doesn't sound good...I may end up gluing it back onto the sleeve.

Also, I've heard this noise on other vehicles with struts and am pretty sure it would explain the noise there too.

 

[hwycycle]

A common issue with the early ridgelines was the windshield wiper fluid reservoir.. The neck works loose, and sounds similar to what you describe..

 

[nondem]

I read that, but that sound would be made as the body of the truck moved up and down and shook - not just the suspension. The sound I'm describing is directly tied to the tire(shock) moving up and down with each imperfection in the road.

 

[zroger73]

I've noticed a bit of what seems like suspension noise in my 28K-mile '10 lately, but haven't really investigated any. I don't think it's near as loud as my interpretation of your description about tennis balls in a cardboard box, but it's definitely not "completely silent" like it used to be or like my '07 was. I only notice the noise when driving on "mildly bumpy" surfaces at low to medium speeds. On the highway or when heavily bouncing around off pavement, it's quiet. The second most annoying noise besides interior squeaks/rattles to me are suspension noises. My '08 G35's suspension "banged" since new (never tended to it) and my '99 Regal started doing it around 75K miles (probably needed struts). None of my other vehicles regardless of mileage have ever made audible suspension noises.

 

[Oddjob]

nondem- by George I think you've got it. As soon as you figure out how to get it stuck back up there let us know.

 

[nondem]

Just a note confirming my findings...I just finished doing the front struts(and more).
I used adhesive to reattach the bump-stop to the top of the strut assembly on ONE side of the truck but not the other.
A quick test drive made it obvious - the noise is gone from the side I glued, and still there on the side I didn't.

 

[roakey]

I used adhesive to reattach the bump-stop to the top of the strut assembly on ONE side of the truck but not the other.
A quick test drive made it obvious - the noise is gone from the side I glued, and still there on the side I didn't.

A fellow diagnostic engineer even if you didn't realize you were one! Excellent test, what kind of adhesive did you use?

Roak

 

[DeuceRon]

Wow, good sleuthing!! Glad you found it

 

[nondem]

A fellow diagnostic engineer even if you didn't realize you were one! Excellent test, what kind of adhesive did you use?

Roak

Thanks I used This stuff

 

[Oddjob]

I happen to have a bottle. I guess when I do my B16 service in a few weeks I'll check into fixing my tennis ball issue.....

 

[areno]

Can this part be viewed/accessed without removing the strut? I'd like to see if this is my problem as well but I'm not sure how to observe this part. Maybe it will be obvious when I take a look after work today. I'm hoping this is it. Thanks, Adam

 

[Oddjob]

areno- you can touch it and move it up and down, but fix it might require the strut to be removed. Turn the wheel all the way to the left or right, look at the strut coil spring inside of that is a plastic sleeve, you can use your fingers to push it up and down, and if you shake it, it might produce the sound you are hearing. Hope this helps.

 

[Rockwood]

Mines more metallic clonky than tennis ball. In any event I replaced the shocks at 120k and that made no difference.
Oil change time. going to poke around. The noise grates at my nerves.

 

[AlexRTS]

FWIW: The windshield washer fluid hose would sometimes bang up against the inside of the engine compartment. It did make quite a racket, so I zip-tied it to the reservoir (being careful as to not kink the hose, of course).

 

[COOPER_ABQ]

I've tried all the other solutions mentioned previously to no avail...so I took it to a reputable shop, that was recommended by a body shop, $92 later (parts and labor), it was a Rt Front stabilizer bar....my RL is as smooth as ever now! :act035:

 

[Slider]

I must be extremely fortunate. Mine rides like the day I bought it. When do the struts need replaced?

 

[ErikE]

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen.

I will try to record the sound. I don't think it reminds me of tennis balls in a cardboard box, but I will keep that in my mind next time. I think it is more like a series of very quick sharper sounding noises. Like hard hitting plastic.