The most likely suspects are related to the strut and lower ball joint since those will move around between braking and accelerating. Typically though you'll also hear the noise when turning, particularly at higher speeds. A sloppy strut isn't exactly a safety issue other than the reduced handling response, but a worn ball joint could separate leading to loss of control and a crash. That is not a common problem on your car like it is on older Ford front-wheel-drive cars.
Worn lower control arm bushings have become a common problem too since the late '90s. That also will not result in something falling apart while you're driving, but it will allow the alignment to change on that wheel. That will accelerate poor tire wear, and the car can dart in unexpected directions. The clue to that is the steering wheel will usually stay centered when the car changes direction. When this gets bad enough, the car will be real miserable to drive.
There's plenty of other potential causes for noises. The steering and suspension systems should be inspected at a tire and alignment shop. They specialize in finding the causes of noises, vibrations, and tire wear problems.
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Tuesday, February 10th, 2015 AT 8:04 PM
