Technical Creaking from front wheel - help!

[dello]

Hello - long time reader, but just signed up!

I have a 2003 Stilo 3 door 1.6 with a terrible creaking coming from the passanger front wheel area that has got much worse over the last few months. I've followed the topics about creaking suspension and have covered all the parts of the front suspension that connect to anything liberally in lithium grease, but no change at all. I'm at my wits end.
My difference is, my car dosen't make much noise at all going over speed bumps, its when moving off from a standstill or accelerating quickly that I get the sound. It is loud and makes a noise along the lines of a creaking floorboard. People look round and its very embarrassing, but mainly annoying. It started as one or two little creaks, but is now much worse.
It is totally destroying what faith I had in the car. Can anyone tell me what it might be?

Thanks - Derek

 

[Argonought]

Have you considered the possibility of a damaged/broken front spring ?

 

[dello]

The spring itself looks fine, and nothing else looks amiss - the wheel can go up and down fine, its whenI imagine the suspension takes the force of the car moving off that it does it.

Thanks, Derek

 

[dello]

Got a friend to listen closely in the work car park today - it does the same noise stationary if I put the handbrake on and try to move off in first. We think weve pinpointed the sound to somewhere under the front wing! If I remove the wheel, can I remove the wheel arch plastic to have a look? More importantly, will it fit back on?!

Thanks

 

[Ralph2]

The most likely candidate is a CV joint, probably outer. Does it creak worse when under power and on a lock? If so that's what it almost certainly will be.

 

[wing1200a]

Just a thought :idea: but have you considered the possibility of warped disks or sticking pads, I get a creaking sound on mine when it has been stood for a couple of days which was annoying the hell out of me, it wasn't until I had to stop on a hill and applied the breaks lightly that I realised what it was.

 

[dello]

Thanks for the replies. I wouldn't personally suspect a CV joint - if anything, the noise eases off when moving off under lock and is only there at all when moving from a standstill or a quick change in speed. The brakes seem fine - the noise is irrespective of braking and it seems to come from higher up than the brake area. It can sometimes be physically felt by anyone in the front of the car if it does a loud creak, and often sounds like the body is flexing.
After it appearing to be coming from under the wing yesterday, this morning I took the wheel off and then the wheel liner. Where we thought the noise was coming from yesterday seems to be an area where the main body of the car either touches or comes very close to the inside metal of the wing. I put lithium grease where my hands would reach and silicone spray everywhere round the area, thinking I may of found it. Put it all back together and no difference at all.

Still, fingers crossed someone else knows what it could be!

 

[Ralph2]

OK another candidate is a crack in a weld that's under stress or a split in a panel. I had a 16V Tipo once that cracked the engine steady bar mounting away from the bulkhead. It made a creaking noise like you describe.

 

[dello]

Thanks for the replies Ralph.
Big update - this morning we had what could only be described as a local monsoon, with local roads waterlogged. I was out in the Stilo at the time, and after driving around on the soaked roads, the noise completely disappeared. The weather dried up and as the day went on the noise slowly returned.
So - is it something that the rain lubricated for a short time? The noise when it returned felt on occasions that it was coming from under the car, but more centrally, in an area near the passengers feet and the bottom of the centre console. Would there be suspension parts in this area that could need greasing up? Could anyone tell me (presuming I can get at it) what I should be lookin got grease up?

Thanks all - Derek

 

[Argonought]

If I was you I'd give the car a good lube all round.

1. But a can of Waxyoil and a brush.
2. Jack up the car securely and remove the road wheel.
3. Now brush the Waxyoil onto all the bushes you can see - especially those with an obvious large rubber content but don't get it on the brakes. You can also spray the stuff but I wouldn't recommend getting it on the wheel arch protector.
4. After you've done one wheel then move onto the next until you’ve done all four.

I can't guarantee this will sort the problem but even if it doesn't it will certainly cure a few others.