Got a few rattles that need to check and figure could be from the front struts. It's not constant only when you hit a road bump/depression.
I have 2 identical V70- 2004, manuals. On one there is a gap between the top rubber washer that the strut shaft nut compresses against, this is the quiet car. The rattling one has noticeably less of a gap, both are torqued correctly.

Did the pry bushing check underneath and all is tight.

The car with the rattle has a tiny bit of vertical play in the left front hub.

Any info appreciated.

"...The car with the rattle has a tiny bit of vertical play in the left front hub...."

May be either the hub bearings or the ball joint??

I'd be interested in what you end up finding to be the culprit as I am having a bit of that problem myself - sometimes.

I have fairly new Sachs struts, strut bearings, spring seats, and sway bar links in the front end of my 03 V70 (215,000 miles). The control arms are OE Volvo, about three years old, but appear to be in good shape with no torque steer issues like it had with the old ones. So I don't suspect they're the source of the noise. I do have a miniscule amount of play in the inner tie rods, but nothing significant (in my layman's opinion).

Please post back as to your actions/results. Thanks.
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Current rides: 2005 Volvo S80 2.5T, 2003 Volvo V70 2.4NA, 1973 Volvo 1800ES (fixed the ignition - now back to the brakes again)

The steering is also tight left and right from straight to slight turning. If the wheel is rotated a lot as for a 180 on ramp the steering is smooth so it's a transition or sticky spot both ways.

I changed the control arms after noticing the rubbers had let go. The real noisy culprit was a loose ball joint. Both arms changed and ball joints done several months ago and no issues till recently.

I'm pretty sure it's in the strut assemblies but you have to pull them to see.

Looking at prices for someone to do and parts pricing also to do my self.