All-

Now that it is (cough) winter again, I am hearing some strange sounds coming from the front end. In the morning (I don't seem to hear it in the afternoon) when I leave for work, there is a 'creaking' sound coming from the passenger side front end when turning the wheel. I also get the nice creaking sound when I get to the end of my driveway approach. My guess is the front struts are going, right?

(Not sure if it would help, but it'* always been a bit harder to turn left then it is right. But that may be a different problem)

Recent front suspension repairs(both sides):
Lower Ball Joints
Wheel Bearings
End Links
Outer Tie-Rod ends
Brakes (Rotors, pads and rebuilt calipers)

The creaking is probably more the strut mounts than the struts. The struts only handle up and down movement, the mount is the bearing that rotates.

Yes, as Boosty mentioned, it'* likely the strut bearings in the mount causing the noise. The steering could be the power steering pump (any noise when it'* harder to turn) or the rack.

yeah probably the bearings on the strut mounts are completely dry. They were on mine and after i greased them, the small creaking went away and steering effort dropped. Do you know how long its been since your struts have been out?

Are the strut mounts under the black cover (top of tower under hood)? That should just pop off and they are on top, right? How can I tell if the struts are going bad?

Archon, the only noise I hear when turning is within reason. The typical noise...unless it'* in the morning as stated above.

wjcollier07, I bought the car last March so it'* tough to say when they were last serviced/changed.

yeah, those are the strut mounts under the black caps, but theres really no point in removing them unless you're changing them, because all that is under there is the strut piston bolt.

To test the struts, the easiest way is to bounce each corner of the car. If the suspension doesn't stiffen, and just bounces, most likely, those struts are bad.

This is all thats under there



the bearings are bolted under pressure of the coil.

Not to sound dumb, but what do I grease? The ring under the nut? Or do I remove the black cover and they are under there?
(nice pic, btw)

Apply grease where it appears it will enter the bearing.

See those four exposed holes. I put 90w gear oil in mine and it stopped making noise while turning. Did it at each oil change and now its good to go.