Technical Creaking sound from front end

[FrankFisher]

Hi, I'm getting a creaking sound from the front end, both sides, that is more pronounced when steering - esp on full lock. it's not really a clunk, not a scrape, just a recurrent creak, creak, creak creak. You can also feel a slight knock through the passenger footwell when it happens. I'm thinking it's suspension rather than, eg, driveshafts - what do people reckon? Drop links? Anti-roll-bar, or arb bushes?

Advice would be welcome.

Also, could this be a sign of anything dangerous, ie is it okay to use the car?

 

[dozer]

Could be a number of things. You'll need to get underneath whilst somebody turns the steering.

 

[Sweetsixteen]

I wouldn't put drop links or arb bushes at the top of the list. Both those make a clonk as you go over bumps or potholes rather than a creaking noise associated with steering.

There's only one way to be sure - and that's as already been said by dozer.

 

[Gavv8]

My first suspects would be the bottom balljoint and the top suspension mounts.

 

[sesentados]

Hi, I'm getting a creaking sound from the front end, both sides, that is more pronounced when steering - esp on full lock. it's not really a clunk, not a scrape, just a recurrent creak, creak, creak creak. You can also feel a slight knock through the passenger footwell when it happens. I'm thinking it's suspension rather than, eg, driveshafts - what do people reckon? Drop links? Anti-roll-bar, or arb bushes?

Advice would be welcome.

Also, could this be a sign of anything dangerous, ie is it okay to use the car?

Hi I had a similar problem and replaced drop links,no change,then checked anti-roll bar for movement after disconnecting from drop links again and found the roll bar producing the noise,turns out someone had tried to take up the wear in the bushes with cloth type insulation tape and this created the noise. Replaced bushes,perfect no noise.

 

[FrankFisher]

Thanks guys. We replaced the drop links- 20 quid, worth a try - and that didn't cure the noise, but did reduce it and noticeably improve the handling! I've been down there with steering turned from lock to lock, and there's no noise. It only makes a noise while moving. So I am thinking shocks (inc mounts), wishbone bushes, arb bushes, CV joints.

I'll probably do cheapest to dearest in order and see what fixes it - so will start with arb bushes.

BTW, the car has 48,000 miles, if that helps diagnose.

 

[dozer]

Cv joints usually only "click" when on full lock whilst driving so I can't see it being them.

 

[FrankFisher]

Been under it today. Have checked lower ball joints, no play in them. The wishbone bush at the rear has vertical movement, but none horizontally - I think that is how it should be? Can anyone confirm? Can't feel any play in CV joints, track rod ends seem fine. However, there is oil on the strut upper - so I guess that may be gone. Would that cause a noise like this?

 

[Sweetsixteen]

Yep - it is possible that a 'creaking' sound could come from a leaking strut, and this might also sound worse when turning, as the loading differs from the inside to the outside wheel as you turn.

 

[euroben]

Did you ever resolve this and find what was making the noise?