2000 Lexus ES300 - 45K miles. While driving over small bumps, the right front strut and sometimes left front strut makes a rattling noise as if something is loose. I have also heard same rattling noise in 1998 Lexus ES300 model car. Any ideas on how to fix? Replace strut mounts, etc.? Thanks! Mark

Are you sure this is a rattle or is it more of a creaking noise? I have a 2000 ES300 and had an issue when I would go over speed bumps and the noise would drive me nuts! However replacing the bushing in the top of the strut mount is expensive due to the labor involved.. Replacement of the strut or the bushing isn't necessary. Just open the hood, locate the strut housing and you ll be able to see the black rubber bushing in the middle. Obtain a can of Heavy Duty silicone aerosol spray and attach a straw to the spray tip. Using a flathead screwdriver wedge the screwdriver between the top of the bushing and the metal pushing the screwdriver all the way to the edge of the metal underneath the roof of the metal housing. Then pry the edge of the bushing away from the metal housing so that the top of the edge of the bushing exposed and stick the straw end of the silicone into the spot and spray generously. Only slight bushing movement will be obtained as the bushing is pretty stiff but it will be enough. Work your way around using this technique until you get the spray fully around the bushing 360 degrees getting it into the area between the edge of the bushing and the metal. Then spray the silicone onto the top of the bushing filling it all the way up until it spills over the metal. After it drains down, repeat again making sure you fill it above the rim of the bushing so it seeps into the area between the bushing and he metal housing (or frame) because this is where the rubbing is taking place that is creating that awful noise. Repeat on the other side and your done. The main goal is to get the silicone into the area between the metal and the bushing along the edge. This happens to be the way I was able to do it. This totally solved my problem and now the car is so quiet there aren't any knocking, creaking or rattling noises. This was a hard solution to explain without visuals, hope you can follow. This will work for sure. The Heavy Duty Silicone spray I used was manufactured by CRC and I bought it from Walmart.

NO YOU NEED TO REPLACE THE STRUTS MOUNTS AND THE BEARINGS UNDERNEATH IT. THE STRUTS ONCE THEY GET AGE ON THEM THE RUBBER THAT QUIETS THE BUMPS WHILE U DRIVE START BREAKING A PART. SO JUST REPLACE THE STRUT MOUNTS AND BEARINGS. NOW A WAY TO CHECK THE STRUTS R TO GO EACH SIDE WHERE THE WHEEL IS AND PUT YOUR HAND ON THE FENDER OR THE TRUNK AND PUSH UP AND DOWN REALLY HARD THEN LET GO WATCH TO SEE IF THE CAR KEEP SHAKING OR STOPS. IF IT SHAKES THAT STRUT IS BAD. IF NOT THEN U R GOOD. ALSO IT GOOD TO REPLACING 2 FRONT SEPRATE OR TWO REAR NOT ONE AT A TIME DUE TO ALIGNMENT ISSUES. GOOD LUCK

I had the same issue with my 1998 ES300 several years ago and I just tightened up the strut bolts. They are located above the wheel wells. Open your hood and you will see them. Last week I had the struts replaced (worn out) and on the drive home the sound came back. I tightened up the strut bolts again and the sound went away. ;)