I have a 96 2500 that has developed rattle on both sides of the front end.
I inspected it and found that the lower ball joints were pretty badly worn so I replaced them, the rattle is still there.
Just wondering if this is a common problem and if anyone knows what the problem might be. I've also check and replaced the bearings as well.

 

check your lower shock bolts and maybe your lower contol arm bolts/bushings.i have had the bolt break on the axle end of the lower contol arm also have had the bushing rattling around in the control arm..

 

I thought the rattle from the front was just the 1st and 2nd gen trucks engine

 

ditto on the lower shock bolts.

 

If everything mentioned above seems to be in good working order, then it might also be your shocks. How old are they? My truck has been making some extra front end noise lately also. I also tried tightening everything up underneath, but no luck so far. I'm gonna give it another try today and see if I can find that rattle. Good luck.

 

Rattle in my front end was bad 4x4 axle Ujoints. Clunked all the time till I rolled up the windows and turned up the stereo.