Hey Scotty!
I have a 2008 Lexus RX 350, 129,000 miles. I'm hearing a sound while I'm driving from the front driver's side which sounds like a small plastic cup flailing away in a large cup holder. I've raised the wheel and did the 12 o'clock-6 o'clock wiggle, and the 9 o'clock-3 o'clock wiggle and there's no movement. The car drives perfectly fine except for that annoying 'loose plastic cup' sound. I took a picture of the the boot around the shock absorber and it looks in shambles, and it's very loose too. I have a strong feeling this is what's causing the sound when the wind hits it while driving. I don't think it's the brakes either because when I hit the brakes the sound still occurs as long as the car is moving. Is there any way to stabilize that loose boot without replacing the whole strut, or will I have to live with it? Here's a picture:
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0e0yvYDS7XYR9lx6zFCTSWWQg
You should probably check and see if the shocks are worn out. If they're original then replace them
Have you checked for a loose splash shield (fender or engine)?
The strut boot protects the strut assembly from contamination and boots do fail over time. Personally, I would not replace a strut unless the strut itself failed, then I would replace that pair of struts. Curious if other members know of a simple repair other than replacement?
Yeah, if the only solution was to replace the strut, then I would live with the annoyance until the strut gave out. But it's very possible that when I replaced the oil cooler line, I may have not used all the screws (or bolts) to secure the splash shield. I'll check that out. 🙂