My 2008 E350 with 44,000 miles has a very loud rattle from the front wheels when driving over small bumps on the road (especially noticeable at slow speeds in city driving). I going to pull the wheels soon to see what I can find, but was hoping someone might have had a similar problem in the past and will point me in the right direction.
P.S. I've ruled out the hubcaps rattling.
P.P.S. These E350 brakes and rotors sure make the ones on my E150 look tiny!

Thanks,
Jack

UPDATE: I removed a front tire and the noise can be repeated easily by hitting the caliper with a rubber mallet. I checked with Autozone by phone and there is a brake installation kit for the E350 available which comes with anti-rattle pad clips. Not sure is this will solve my problem, but for $9.00, it's worth a try.

 

Sure it's "from the front wheels"? Once had what some might consider "a very loud rattle" that bedeviled me. In my efforts to located the mysterious source decided to drive around w/o the dog house in place & listen.

Discovered a heat shield on CC had popped a spot weld, leaving clam shell halves loose in a corner. Certain harmonics made it rattle like a SOB. Was able to drill, install small nut/bolt & draw up tight.

 

Unless those anti-rattle clips are missing for some reason they should already be installed. Do you do your own brakes?

 

I normally do my own brakes, but I've only owned this van for a couple months. The shoes look pretty good, so I imagine someone has replaced them once?
The noise is definitely in the front wheels, as it's very obvious when hitting small bumps on the road at 20 mph.

 

I would assume they've been replaced and it's possible they didn't have the patience to install the pads with the clips installed and simply left them out. After awhile they will rattle without them and if they're like mine the pads also slide along those clips.

 

Does the "very loud rattle" come & go dependant on touching brake pedal?

Shouldn't the smallest amount of pressure on brake pedal 'tighten' pads & stop them from rattling?

 

Everybody lives in hawaii so try unrolling a straw beach mat under the van and check for looseness in the steering too. Can't hurt. Look for worn bushing, play in linkage joints etc.

 

If the caliper rattles when you smack it with a rubber mallet, try replacing the caliper slide pin/bolt rubber bushings. I had the same issue with my '04 rear calipers, it made a rattling clattering sound over bumps.

 

I haven't picked up the kit from Autozone yet, but I see that the boots come with the "Brake Installation Kit". Here's a photo of what you get for $9.00.


Jack

 

I'm happy to report that the problem was indeed the lack of the anti-rattle clips on the brake shoes. Of of the 8 clips, only 2 were present. It's not like they would wear out and fall off, so I have to assume that previous installer just skipped that step. For once, it was a cheap and easy fix. Test drive confirmed that the rattle is completely gone.
Jack

 

Did you ever confirm, or eliminate, IF "the "very loud rattle" comes & goes dependant on touching brake pedal?"

Would like to know IF "the smallest amount of pressure on brake pedal would 'tighten' pads & stop them from rattling?"

 

What difference does that make at this point? The missing clips were the issue, problem fixed.

 

Sorry that I didn't check that out, but it'd be likely that it would indeed of stopped the rattle, and would of been a good way to diagnose the problem.

Jack