Have a very clean, well taken care of 2010 Forester with 47,000 miles and a progressively getting worse sound coming from the front end on even the small road  imperfections.   The sound was intermittent before warranty ran out and the dealer said they found nothing.   If the Forester is loaded with passengers or a trip to Tractor supply the noise goes completely away.  Been on numerous lifts and nothing is found.  Ball joints and stabilizer bar links appear like new when wiggled and pried with a bar both on the lift (tires hanging) and on the ground.  Springs are not broken and all exhaust shields are clean and tight. I have been under the car taping/beating on every part imaginable and nothing is found.  Sound is like a very loose heavy part that is just banging around.  I have laid on the ground and son bounces the front end but can not duplicate but, yet go 5mph out my wavy driveway  and it sounds like you'll loose the whole front end..... Frustrating....  Thanks for any help.

Is there a range of speed the sound appears, or does it happen at all speeds?

What happens to the noise when you:

- accelerate?

- travel at constant-speed?

- decelerate?

On secondary paved roads the sound is more noticeable but, then you're also, going at slower speeds.   The same with accelerating or slowing the sound is not as noticeable as going a constant speed but, it is still there.    I have tried hitting bumps while breaking and this makes no difference to the sound.

Key to riddle ?  Loaded down sound goes away...

Edited October 19, 201411 yr by Vmax540

Wheel bearings?

CV joints?

Not a constant sound like a wheel bearing and does not get louder with speed.  A CV will normally crack or grind when cranking the wheels.   It serious sounds like a chunk of metal is hanging on a rope and a bump makes it swing into another piece of metal making a ker-plunk sound...

Edited October 20, 201411 yr by Vmax540

Sway bar links.

Remove them and check for play, and take it for a short drive to see if the noise is still there. The ball type links are very difficult to check on the car. Also check the bushings that hold the bar to the frame.

strut bolt loose at the top mount?

 

rear bushing on the lower control arm (transverse link)

 

double-check brake components