1996 Volvo 960 Wagon

[IMA081415]

I just bought my first Volvo 1996 960 wagon got a great deal for it and only had two previous owners, the second owner only had it about 6months and barely used it and the first owner kept up on the maitence and it spent most of its time parked in their garage. It has 118,000mi on it. But as I've been driving it for a couple weeks I noticed a rattling sound coming from near the front driver's side tire. I notice the sound a lot more driving on uneven roads like gravel going a low speed. I got really worried because the noise sounds like it's getting louder and I am driving this with my 3 children in this vehicle and it's my only vehicle to get my kids to school and daycare and me to work. I had a family member look at it in a parking lot and was told it's not the wheel bearing but I didn't have a jack at the time to let him get under it and look into it further. I'm wondering if anyone might have had a similar issue or know what it might be? I noticed my brakes are probably due for a change soon but nothing to serious nothing makes noise when I step on the brakes but when going on uneven roads or over speed bumps it's sounds like something is loose and rattling like it's gonna fall off. When driving it doesn't pull my alignment is fine when driving and the freeway it drives great. I'm not a mechanic and don't know much about cars so I thought I would start here because I am low on money to have someone come look at it and am scared of getting ripped off or having someone with no experience try to take me for what little cash I have (speaking for horrible past experience with other cars in my past) people think since I'm a young lady that I must be stupid and easy to take money from so I'm scared to have someone come tell me one thing just to find out it's something completely different so I have to come up with more money then I can afford. I'm barely making it as I am taking care of 3 little ones I just need a trustworthy mechanic that can give me honest answers of what it could be AMD how much it would cost to fix it, and also is it safe to be putting myself and 3 kids in. I know my symptoms are probably pointing to a lot of different things it could be but I'm unsure on how to explain the noise besides it sounds like something is loose and rattling around. Thank you so much any answers will be much appreciated.

[precopster]

There are few actual mechanics here but plenty of us here can run rings around non-Volvo mechanics as far as mechanical knowledge and experience with these cars.

The 1996 960s have sway bar links and these can loosen with time. They are attached on left and right side of the suspension from the suspension strut tower directly to the sway bar. Tightening these is always the first step.