This is a shot in the dark but maybe someone has already had this problem and solved it. I recently bought an 05 S with 188k miles. I pulled the front subframe to replace the LCA bushings (with Powerflex) as well as the standard stuff- power steering hoses, filter housing and oil cooler gaskets, and inner ball joints, and new CV axle boots. Everything went back together easy enough. I torqued everything down. Now there is a loud clunk/ rattle from the driver’s side at the wheel. I double checked everything again and it’s still there. I only here it when going over small bumps in the road. Could this be the strut? Everything underneath and on top is tight.

Retorque everything. Suspension parts can loosen up after initial driving.

i did that this morning and took it out again. The noise was the same. I even checked the struts and parts I didn’t work on. Would struts make that noise if they were really gone?

I got weird "grounching" noises in my daughters car after adding shock tower backing plates to help with domed shock towers. I've struggled with the source and fiddled with a million sources but now it's gone. It may have been related to the spring perch rubber mats shifting at the top of the shock tower.

Tell us if and when you figure this out.

Peter

It was the struts. Both of the fronts needed replacing. The passenger one has actually pushed through the top plate with was some of the noise we heard when we turned. This car has been taking me to school in trouble shooting!!!