I had to put on my tire cables today up on the mountain, and while I was driving (under 30 mph of course) I got an intermittent chirping sound from my front right side, even when I was barely moving. It mostly went away after I took the chains off, but then it moved to the left side later. I looked to see if the chains were rubbing, and I think they were occasionally grazing the bottom strut receiver, but didn't even rub the paint off.

Any ideas what this is? The struts are only a couple of years old, and don't have that many miles on them. Do bad sway bar bushings chirp like a bird intermittently? I looked, and they are still attached, but I have no idea how old they are.

Inexpensive problems are preferred

It was cold up on Hood. Has the squeak gone away after it warmed up?

Remember what I told you about clearance issues and chains? Did you buy the Les Schwab cables, or the ones from GI Joes?

Joes chains have little rollers on the cables that can squeak as they spin.

The noise started just after I put the chains on, when I was going up (the car was warm), and went away about 10 minutes after I took them off on the way down. When I got back into town about an hour later, the squeak came back on the other side. I've heard it occasionally before on the highway, but not regularly enough to worry about it. It was loud up on the mountain. Didn't sound like a ball joint creaking, either.

And the chains were the GI Joe'* kind, the low profile cables, like you had suggested.

I've ran with chains a few times, never had anyproblems; but I have Les Schwab type. Must have hit a line, or something. By chance, your ABS light on now?

Weird weather today in the Northwest; I woke up to see my car completely covered in snow. Two hours later gone, it rained and melted.

Struts and upper strut bearings can squeak and creak in the cold. Let it go for now, but keep an ear tuned.

I don't think I hit a line, I was real careful. Couldn't tell from the ABS light, it'* been on for 3 years.

I'm just going to turn up the radio for now, and hope it goes away. I feel better now, I thought I busted something expensive. Thanks for your help