Rattling Noise In Wheel Area

I'm gonna go out on a limb here, you have worn suspension bushings, and when you apply the brakes the noise goes away because you are efrfectively binding the suspension against the 4000 pounds of vehicle.

If the vehicle is moving forward, and the brakes are applied, then the suspension is going to be pulled rearward and it will bind against the fixed points of the undercarriage. When you release the brakes, the suspension can flop around unrestrained, and you hear this as a rattle. Replacing the suspension bushings should solve your complaints.

Upper shock mount.

-Fred W

Exactly. Thanks for typing all that in so I don't have to...

Except it is the upper shock mount that is bad, but all the other stuff you said applies. ;-)

-Fred W

Good call. I wouldn't have known that, but I follow the reasoning. I would have found it eventually after looking at all of the other bushings first.

My 1997 528i made the same noise. I found out that the little tangs on the back of the brake pads were not bent out enough to prevent them from rattling against the pistons and calipers. A few minutes with a pliers at each caliper fixed it.

Ack!! I just reread the OP and sure enough he said the noise was coming from the wheel area. I thought he said it was coming from the rear as in the shock mounts. If it is in fact a rattling and not clunking I would also suspect the brake pads are flopping around in the calipers.

-Fred W