So I have a 98 xle 4 cyl with 157k miles. I recently changed all four shocks/struts, but not the mounts. Although the replacement made a worlds of difference, there is a clunking/scratching noise that hasn't gone away. I purchased the car with this noise, and the only feasible conclusion that I can come up with is the strut mounts. The noise is definitely from the front. It is most prominent when driving locally under 45mph. Ironically, when checking for "play" of the mounts, my mechanic said the mounts are pretty good. Any ideas??

 

The other possibility is the sway bar bushings. If this is problem it is a much cheaper and faster fix then the mounts.

The mounts can start to knock typically when going over bumps, etc.