2002 grand caravan, excessive ratteling noise in front suspension, just replaced struts and upper bearing plates and sway bar links and it actually got worse. now what?

could be loose strut springs , strut shocky mount , top strut bearing, loose wheel bearings, suspension mounts.
have it inspected by an accredited suspension shop.

90% of front suspension noise on caravans is sway bar bushings and sway bar links.Next is upper strut bearings.

very common problem on this vehicle is a banging noise in the front end on bumps , the first thing i would replace next on the info you have given is the sway bar links and sway bar frame mount bushings.

He's probably talking about upper strut mounts/bearing plates or the rubber bumpstops under them. Either way, the strut assemblies have to be removed and dis-assembled to replace them. So he is probably figuring on replacing these items as well as the struts themselves, since everything is already apart. unless the van has very, very low miles. I would double check the front sway bar links though. These cause noise on bumps similar to a strut mount, and are notorious for premature failure. Moog makes them with grease fittings to get batter life. Both sides can usually be replaced for around $250 for parts and labor. When I do have one with bad strut mounts, I usually go ahead and figure worst case. I figure struts, upper mounts/bearing plates, bump-stops and bellows, and the sway bar links on any T&C with over 60K. Usually runs between $750 - $850 for parts and labor (including alignment) with a labor rate of $74.50 per hour. If it is your struts and not just the sway bar links, you can drive it for a while before they have to be replaced. Another option is complete strut assemblies from Monroe or KYB. They are completely assembled with all new parts and you can bolt them in youself to save come money. It takes all the specialty tools out of the job. This can be accomplished at home with simple hand tools in the driveway! Either way, check the sway bar links. If in doubt, replace them.

The knocking could be ball joints, control arm bushings, worn strut mounts or struts, missing or damaged spring isolators or a broken coil spring. All of these things are easily diagnosed once the truck is up on a lift , with the exception of the strut, since it cannot be tested unless it is completely removed from the vehicle. However struts should be replaced every 50,000-75,000 miles.

I replaced both sway bar links as well as the bushings this past summer and things are still quiet. I had the same clunking noise as well when going over bumps (Drives you crazy!). Did you try changing the bushings as well? They are $16 for a set of Moog bushing at O'Reilly's. http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/MOO0/K7406.oap?year=2001&make=Dodge&model=Grand%2BCaravan&vi=1400027&pt=02972&ppt=C0106

Have you have the ball-joints checked?

Could be struts/mounts or sway bar links. If you replaced the front struts hopefully they replaced your mounts as well. If the struts were blown they may have damaged the bearings in the mounts.

Shocks/struts need to be replaced.

front stuts need replacement, buy this point it would be both. you can tell most of the time buy if you hit a pot hole on the left and it makes a nosie thats the side. but after a few days of driving like this both are in bad shape and need replacement.

there is no bearing its just the strut, you can tell buy getting a jack stand and lifting the front and moving the tire side to side and back to front. usaly anything over 10-20 thouthands of an inch is bad, and that mean if you feel it it's bad.

but anyways to replace it you will need a sop, you have to compress your front srping in order to remove and install a strut.