When I changed the shocks the other week I also lubed the front and did the good old shake of the front wheelsto check for worn parts. Front seemed rigid. It was good for about a week after doing this work but now the rattle came back. It definetly is the front wheel areas. About 1k miles ago lower balljoints were changed, pitman and idler arms were also changed then. I'm thinking its the upper balljoints as they are older, but would they seem good after greasing them and then go back to rattle a week after.

 

That sucks with only 34K miles. I just had upper and lower ball joints and the upper control arm bushing upgrade kit on both sides done, but mine lasted 134K miles, so I can't complain.

 

Go over the front shock mounting bolts again, paying attention to possible play in the upper shock mount. I had this EXACT same situation with my old Bravada when I replaced the shocks. The upper mounts were tightened down to spec, but the replacement shocks did not have the same width spacer in the bushing. I had to torque the crap out of the upper mounting bolts to get the top mount to tighten up.

If it isn't that, try putting a rag up near the hinge at the base of the windsheild. If that gets it, then you need to grab a set of conical washers from the dealer (or shims if you choose from a hardware store) to put on the hood hinge bolts. The conical washers (as spec'd in the TSB on this - search) will mostlikely take care of the problem for you.

 

Yah the roads suckin Maineespecially mine it was voted worst in the state. I didn't use a torque wrench on the shock bolts but I torqued it tighter than I think they were when I took the others off. I figured since they were very heavy duty looking bolts they wouldn't be easy to snap off so I didn't use a torque wrench. It seems like the same rattle I tried to fix with the shocks, but yah since I greased it at the same time can't really tell if changing the shocks fixed that or if they just made the ride better.I will retighten the bolts on the shocks when I do a front brake job in early may(only time I have off from school and work). I can fit it in if you think this may cause damage toshocks or mounts or something much worse. As for the hood hinge I had the nut fall off the drivers side before and I placed a new one on it seems good, but I will have to look at other sides bolt. One question to go with my front brake jobthough does the caliper have bolts with only a hex head or a hex head andnut on theend like replacements due? If it helps the calipersare the stocks one which were made by some australian company.