Rattling Noise Front Passenger Side When Driving: Solutions

Rattling noise front passenger side when driving is a major cause of concern for any driver. The noise is equally frustrating regardless of whether it is a subtle vibration or a loud sound.

If your car is rattling, determining the cause is not always a complex process. In this post, you will learn why your car is making a rattling noise from the passenger side when accelerating and how you can solve it.

What’s the Cause of a Rattling Noise on the Front Passenger Side?

The cause of a rattling noise on the front passenger side is a bad wheel bearing. Your car’s wheel bearings help the wheel spin smoothly without friction. However, with time, the bearings can wear out causing them to rattle when driving.

The wheel bearings are in the hub assembly that links the wheel to the car. If the bearings wear out, they become loose and begin to move in the hub. As you drive the car and the wheel spins, the loose wheel bearing is going to create a rattling noise. As a result, the wheel is going to vibrate as you drive resulting in rattling noise from tire area.

Loose Hubcap Causes Rattling on the Front Passenger Side

Another cause of the rattling noise from the passenger is a loose hubcap. The hubcap covers the center of the wheel making it look nicer. However, if the hubcap on the passenger side is loose, it will cause a rattling noise.

This will happen as you drive. Usually, the hubcap should fit tightly onto the wheel and stay in place. That said, if it somehow becomes loose, it can move around and shake while the car is moving.

It is especially true when driving over bumps or on uneven roads. The loose hubcap will hit other parts of the car, such as the wheel. If this happens, it could explain the metal rattling sound when driving.

As you drive, the rattling noise will be more evident because of the movement. As the vehicle is moving, your car’s loose hubcap will vibrate resulting in a lot of noise.

Bad Shocks or Struts Can Cause Front Passenger Side Rattling

Another common cause of rattling noise in a car is bad shocks or struts. If these suspension components fail, they can create rattling as you drive. The parts will malfunction with time because of wear and tear or when they hit potholes. As a result, they no longer function.

To this end, the bad shocks or struts are no longer able to absorb bumps as well. Therefore, when you drive on rough roads or over bumps, your car will bounce much more on the side with these faulty parts. As the car bounces, different parts will hit each other. For instance, the wheel may hit the wheel well.

Once these parts hit each other, they create a rattling noise when driving. If the front passenger side has a malfunctioning shock or struts, the rattling may seem to be coming from the passenger seat. The rattling noise coming from left front wheel will be evident when driving or hitting road bumps.

Damaged Suspension System Can Generate Rattling Sounds

Another culprit for the rattling you hear from the passenger side is a damaged suspension. The suspension components include a control arm, a sway bar, and shock absorbers. The role of the system is to cushion your ride from jolts and bumps on the road. However, the suspension parts can wear out because of the motion as you drive.

Over time, rough roads, big bumps, and potholes can exert pressure on the system which weakens or breaks it. Eventually, it is unable to effectively absorb vibrations and bumps. Instead of gracefully absorbing the imperfections, your car will start shaking. This is a common cause of rattling noise on passenger side of car when accelerating.

Consequently, different parts such as wheels or components of the suspension may start bumping and knocking. As a result, you may hear rattling from the passenger side. This noise will be evident when driving or moving over bumps. Apart from bad suspension, damaged steering rods can also cause rattles and shakes.

Loose Wheel: The Mystery Behind Front Passenger Side Noise

If the front passenger side wheel of your car is loose, it can cause rattling. Wheel nuts or bolts are responsible for keeping your car wheels in place. Sometimes the nuts or bolts can be loose. This will likely happen for a number of reasons such as improper installation. For instance, if you fail to tighten your car’s wheel nuts, the constant vibrations and bumps while driving can make the wheel vibrate. When it happens you may hear rattling.

If the wheel on your car’s passenger side is not tightly secured to the hub, it is going to wobble as you drive. In addition, a loose wheel can also bounce up and down, hitting other parts of your car’s suspension or wheel assembly. Once the wheel gets into contact with other components, it can result in a rattling noise. You can think of it as two objects colliding resulting in a clattering sound.

This rattling on left side of car when accelerating will be evident when your car is in motion. The reason is the wheel spins faster, causing the loose wheel to shake and rattle even more.

Loose Exhaust System Turns Your Car Into a Noise Maker

A loose exhaust system is another culprit to the rattling noise in your vehicle. The exhaust system in your car consists of various components that direct the exhaust out of the car.

3 components include an exhaust manifold, muffler, connecting pipes, and catalytic converter.

With time, wear and tear, or exposure to high temperatures can make parts of the exhaust loose. This allows the exhaust to move around easily. As you drive, the engine generates vibrations that the exhaust system is meant to absorb. However, because part of the exhaust is loose, the vibrations from the engine will result in a car rattle.

Is your car making rattling noise when driving slow? This could be the reason. For example, if the exhaust hangers are loose, they will make the exhaust rattle against nearby components or the vehicle’s underside.

When the exhaust is loose near the passenger side, the rattling you hear arises from the exhaust hitting components such as the chassis or frame. If this is the cause, you will notice the rattle is louder when the engine is running.

Loose or Damaged Heat Shield Has Noise Consequences

A loose heat shield is another cause of rattling coming from the front passenger side. The heat shield protects your car’s underside from the hot exhaust system. It protects parts such as floorboards and nearby parts from the excess heat of the exhaust. If it is the culprit, you may hear rattling under car when going over bumps.

Over time, exposure to high temperatures or wear and tear, your car’s heat shield can be loose or damaged. In other words, the attachment becomes loose or some parts of the shield may be broken. Consequently, the loose or damaged shield is going to vibrate as you drive. The noise will arise from the shield coming into contact with parts such as the vehicle undercarriage or the exhaust system.

Loose Brakes Can Cause Front Passenger Side Rattling

Loose brakes can also cause rattling sounds in your car. Over time, your car’s brake system may become loose or damaged because of wear and tear. As you press the brake pedal when driving, the brake pad will contact the brake rotors.

However, if you have a loose brake caliper, damaged brake hardware, or worn brake pads, they are likely going to rattle when braking. The loose or worn parts will move or vibrate resulting in the rattling noise. This rattling is evident when driving and braking.

What’s the Best Solution To a Rattling Noise When Driving?

The best solution to a rattling noise when driving is to tighten loose parts. Before you can tighten the loose parts, examine the source of the noise from the passenger side. These include loose bolts or nuts, brackets, or body panels.

Once you identify the loose part, use the right tools to tighten them. By tightening the loose parts, you solve the excess vibrations and movement causing rattling. Tightening the components secures them in the correct position, which decreases potential rattling. That is one way of solving the rattling noise from front of car when driving.

Replace Worn Parts To Bring Harmony to Front Passenger Side

Replacing worn components is another way you can solve the rattling issue from the passenger side. Replacing worn components to restore the proper structural integrity of your car. For instance, replacing suspension bushing or brake pads with the right parts reduces excessive play.

This eliminates the source of the noise resulting in a quieter and smoother driving experience. You should let a professional deal with the installation of the new parts. Doing so ensures no other components are affected when replacing the worn components.

Also, use the right parts such as fitting brake components to avoid future issues. In addition, if the front passenger panel or wheel well has loose components, you will have to fasten them in place. In this case, replace the broken fasteners.

A Professional Mechanic Silences the Passenger Side Rattle

Taking your rattling vehicle to a professional mechanic is another solution. The mechanic will examine your car for the source of the rattling noise. Using experience, the mechanic will conduct a thorough inspection of the front passenger side of your car. Such inspection covers components and systems that can cause rattling. The culprits are the suspension, brakes, exhaust, or heat shields.

If the rattling is caused by loose or damaged parts, the mechanic will tighten or replace them. Once the mechanic makes the necessary repairs or replacements, they will test drive the car to ensure the rattling noise is fixed.

If the rattling noise is no longer present, the mechanic will have fixed the issue. What’s more, the mechanic will advise on how to prevent rattling in the future. This may include carrying out regular services to your suspension and changing engine oil.

Conclusion

In this post, you learned the several causes and solutions to the rattling noise coming from your car’s passenger side. Here are the key takeaways:

• The main cause is a loose or worn part such as a loose wheel, bolt, or heat shield.
• Others are bad wheel bearings, a damaged suspension, or a faulty exhaust system.
• To solve it, tighten loose parts such as the wheels, the heat shield, or the hubcap.
• Replacing worn car parts can also solve this issue.
• Hiring a professional is another effective solution.

Now that you know the causes and solutions to this problem, you can go ahead to address it whenever you come across it.