S60 Suspension: "Train track" sound from front on uneven roads

[ilmiont]

New to me 2005 MY S60.

I got her back after a week with local independent Volvo specialist yesterday. As it was their first time seeing the car, I had a basic inspection done and they reported the brakes and suspension look good all round.

While driving today and yesterday, I've noticed a sound that I can only describe as like a train running over tracks or track points (as if the train goes over one section of track each time the sound occurs). It's coming from the front of the car and only occurs on uneven sections of road.

On a smooth road, there's no noise whatsoever. The car always drives smoothly irrespective of surface and the wheel points straight.

I'm pretty sure this was there before I took it into service but I only really took notice of it yesterday while hunting to see if the rest of the problems had been resolved. Sound is much more noticeable with the windows open.

Garage haven't done any work on the suspension; after inspection it was brake bleed, alarm siren, clockspring/SAS and a few unrelated minor items.

Not sure if it's anything to be concerned about or not; on the one hand they've reported there is nothing to be aware of - and have driven the car but may not necessarily have experienced this - , on the other, I'm not sure of the cause which annoys me!

There's also a kind of "flapping" sound at points, which seems to be from the driver's side maybe a bit behind the driver, it's inconsistent and has definitely been there all the time I've had the car.

[ilmiont]

Anyone? Car booked back into garage for Friday (for brakes), if anyone can help me out with this I might try and get this looked at too. I'm not overly concerned but if it's straightforward/cheap may be able to get it done at the same time.

[Symes]

Although it's been given a once over, the antiroll bar links are worth a closer inspection, also the ard bushes are bonded to the bar, they may have some minor play in them.

[Longhouse21]

Could be he pads or handbrake shoes chattering in the calipers or, in the case of the handbrake, inside the disc on the back plate?
Maybe a heat shield around the exhaust?

[Kev0607]

As mentioned by an earlier poster, I'd also be inclined to think the anti-rollbar links could be your culprit.

[ilmiont]

All of the above sound feasible really, I am under the impression that this "clatter" is coming from the front, but there's also a "rattle" from the rear at times (which probably is the handbrake shoes).

It's a bit sporadic... sometimes I'll hit a big hole or rut and hear nothing, others I'll hear it in quick succession going over a rough section of road.