2005 Saturn Vue loud rear end

So the noise is coming from the back?Its probably a bad wheel bearing.

I had the rear wheel bearings replaced along with front brakes and a new belt. I can not believe how quiet the Vue is now. Next I will get all new struts and the mechanic said I should have now issues for a long time! Thanks for your input.

Your welcome I would have only replaced the bearing that was bad not both.Also those struts usually last a lot longer then 91,000 Are they leaking oil or something?

Remember that the Vue is a tow car. It probably has 15000 more miles on the wheels than the odometer says. Also being a tow car it gets bounced around more than if you were just driving it. About 2 years ago I started to wonder if I had a bad strut because of the sound it would make every time I hit any kind of bump. After towing it south last month, another 1400 miles, the drivers side front is really rattling with even minor bumpiness on the road.
When our mechanic suggested that I needed new struts is when my husband pulled out my list and told him that was one of my concerns. So since he only charges $50 and hour and does not mark up on parts it is probably a good time to replace at least the front ones.

As far as the rattle goes in the front end those sway bar links like to do that when they go bad.

I had the front struts replaced and it really does have a better ride now. But the rattle sound was still there. So we went ahead and had the stabilizer bars replaced because the rubber parts on the links were shot. That only cost me $70 and at first it seemed to fix the rattle. But down the road, it was there again. Would a ball joint make a rattling sound? I could live with it if I knew for sure that it was nothing that would fall apart later or cause an accident. I had the mechanic check the tow assembly mounted to the frame also and make sure it had not loosened either. I am starting to run out of things to check.

So you had the part the goes from the strut to the sway bar end replaced?

Yes, it was called the sway bar linkage and it attaches about half way up the strut.

I have seen the caliper pins rattling.

I can not believe that when the front brakes were replaced 2 weeks ago that they would not look at the brake caliper pins and bushings. Looking up other people with Vues, it sounds like that might be it. Well at least if they were not replaced, that will be one more thing to try. Thanks!

The problem is the caliper pins fit a little loose in the caliper housing bore and rattle.

It seems weird that when we first start out, it does not rattle. After about a mile, it starts in. We will check out the caliber pins this next week.

I was reading about caliper pins on Saturnfans website, it was mentioned that their rattle would stop when they applied the brakes. Mine rattles even if the brakes are applied and to update it has been rattling right away instead of after a mile or so. So do you think it might still be the caliper pins? If this is not it could it be the ball joint? My husband is tired of dealing with it and thinks we should just put up with the rattle.

If it doesnt stop when applying the brakes then its not the caliper pins.

just an update, The rattle sound in the front end ended up being a bad strut mount. It was worn out and was not replaced when he replaced the struts. A good front end guy found the problem. Now it runs and sounds GREAT! Thanks for all the advice.

Glad to hear you found the problem noises are hard to find when I cant hear them in person.