If the noise will occur when the vehicle is standing still, you have the advantage of being able to search underneath while a helper turns the steering wheel. The first suspect would be the upper strut mounts. You can find that by reaching over the top of a front tire and wrapping your fingertips lightly around one of the coils on the spring. When your helper turns the steering wheel, you should feel the spring turn smoothly with the wheel and tire. If it binds, then snaps free, that mount is binding and must be replaced.
When you turn, one corner of the vehicle actually lifts up a little and the other side goes down. With the anti-sway bar disconnected, there's no pressure on the lower control arms so the upper mounts could have turned more freely. Same with the lower ball joints. You might have just reduced the tension on the noisy part by disconnecting the links.
There is a tool you might be able to borrow or rent from an auto parts store that borrows them called the "Chassis Ear". It is a set of six microphones, a switch box, and headphones. You clip the microphones to suspect points, then drive around while listening with the headphones. You can move the microphones around to zero in on the source of the noise. Be aware that many mechanics have never seen or even heard of this tool. Suspension and alignment mechanics use it to find rattles, squeaks, and other noises.
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Sunday, October 16th, 2011 AT 12:27 AM