check it out and let us know. Diagnosis might take us longer....we have better prices though.

Well sure enough, its been a couple of days since it rained, and when I drove home today the noise stopped. I did however pop off the dust caps for the strut towers and put some lubricant in. I was surprised how much water manages to go through, there is calcium-like crusty stuff all over and the 4 holes had rust in them.

So I took the car around the block, and I came to a stop, and for a very brief moment I heard that damn rubbery sound again, just a single rubbery bump (BRRRRRT, trill those R'*). This time I was going straight and just stopping, no steering. It was quiet and only for a brief moment, and it was after I added the lubricant. The car did lean forward as I was stopping however so it could be the struts again? I dont think its belt slip but im not leaving it totally out of the equation. I tried to reproduce it one more time but I was unable to, and I was working the car out before I heard this sound when I made some stops and didn't hear it then. Im wondering what else it could be, but since its been like this forever and the car hasn't fallen apart yet I might as well not bother, the 100 bucks just for the mechanic to tell me whats wrong aint worth it anyway.

Then again, those mechanics wouldn't know anyway and would charge me regardless, they couldn't tell their head from their *** and yet they are allowed to work on cars?!?

You need to find a better mechanic, man. The shop we go to had The Missus van up on the lift for half a day, trying to figure out why it kept dying. They finally said "here'* your keys, we didn't find or fix anything so you don't owe us anything". We had to buy an oil change then, just because we felt bad for them...

Maybe that last noise you heard was the lube finally letting everything settle into place(?)

Sounds like you lubed it and didn't give it time to penetrate and do it'* job.

BTW...the strut tower is wide up below the dust cover and mounting plate.

Lube it again and at each oil change and it will go away in time.