Zytek_Fan

The driver's side front is squeeking. When I'm going over bumps or steering.
What could be making this annoying squeek?

GEDaggett

Strut assembly. I have the same thing. There is a poly urethane bushing in there that dries out and starts squeaking like nuts.You can buy your self a little time(maybe) if you jack up the car and spray a bunch of wd40 down the shaft of the strut. I have mine on the way from autohausaz.com ($110.00)

Zytek_Fan

Son of a b**** not more money

edit: Does yours squeek when you move the steering wheel too?

GEDaggett

Yes. The strut assembly is the only thing that will give you the squeaking when either hitting bumps or steering. The shaft that runs to the strut mount is fixed and does not move but the lower housing rotates with the wheel as you steer. I feel your pain.

Zytek_Fan

Would a Bilstein comfort strut work? It seems to be the same as OEM.

But before I buy a new strut, I'm going to grease the hell out of the bushing when I change my oil this Sunday.

GEDaggett

Not sure about the comfort shock. I just got the strut assembly recommended from autohausaz.com As far as greasing it up that will most likely work for a short amount of time but the squeaking will return with a vengence.

Zytek_Fan

We checked it more closely and it's definitely coming from A-arm bushings.


Oh, when you change the oil, how do you change the filter without oil coming out and going everywhere?

GEDaggett

What did you do to confirm it was the a-arm (lower control arm) bushings?

Zytek_Fan

We had it up on ramps when we were changing the oil, so my dad was looking underneath while I bounced it up and down to generate the noise.

GEDaggett

I thought the exact same thing with mine until I got both wheels off the ground and with no stress on the lower control arm bushings it still did the squeaking. It is more likely the strut/shock assembly as the control arm bushings really wouldn't set up a vibration situation when just turning the steering wheel. I would take a couple of minutes to raise those wheels and try turning the wheel with them off the ground. If it still squeals with no pressure on the control arm bushings I would look into the strut assembly as a cause. just a thought but it very well could still be the bushings.

optimizer

I just had the same issue of squeaking when steering (standing still or rolling) and going over bumps. It turned out to be the ball joint. That was the first suspect. When we lifted the car and got underneath to listen to the source confirmed it was the ball joint. Finally got it replaced yesterday and the sound was gone.

Zytek_Fan

That makes sense.
Mine is doing the same thing.

Zytek_Fan

I've narrowed it down a bit and it sounds like either a ball joint or tie rod assembly...

And it really only squeeks when I turn.

GEDaggett

Does it still squeak when you have it off the ground?

Zytek_Fan

Yeah.
Now there isn't much of a squeek going over bumps, it's just when turning.

Damocles74

Definitely have the same problem (driver's side creek in turns and bumps). One tech told me it was the ball joint, and another said it was the strut bushing.
I jacked the car up and super lubed everything - ball joint ,shaft, bushings - and it still creeks like a coffin lid.
When the car was jacked up, I rolled the wheel and it was quiet?
The ball joint is VERY difficult to replace (it would almost be easier to buy a "loaded" control arm {with ball joint}) versus a strut bushing.

funkgab

is it that hard? i was going to replace my whole suspension.. shocks/struts/strut mounts/balljoint/bushings/my tie rods seem okay..

also dont forget about an alignment guys