87Selene

This didn't start until after I redid the outer tie rods, brakes, and new idler arm... Thoroughly greased everything. Now there is a terrible squeak when I turn the wheel. My dad thinks it's the steering column, the guy from autozone thinks it's the strut.

Now when I parallel park the car sounds like nails on a chalkboard.... Lol

It doesnt squeak if you turn the wheel with the car jacked up, and we pushed on the driver side strut and it does seem to make the same squeak, but would the strut squeak while turning?

Any ideas about what's squeaking would be greatly appreciated.

I wanted to wait to put the koni yellows on the car until I could afford all the way around, but if it's the strut, I'll have to just do the front end for now :/

built91Z28

What do you mean by turning? Do you mean the car is moving and making a turn, or do you mean turning the steering wheel? If you mean the steering wheel, will it do it with the car sitting still and turning the wheel? Either way, go back over everything and check to make sure everything is tightend completely.

87Selene

I mean when turning the steering wheel.

And yes it does it while turning the wheel, sitting still.

Checked to make sure everything is tight, and it looks good.

Noticed something else to add to the problem, whenever I get on it after turning out of a driveway, there's a hard rattle and it feels like something is bouncing up and down on the passenger side in the front... And I just replaced the idler arm, so I'm puzzled about this sound/rattle now....

Thanks for your response by the way appreciate it

hellz_wings

iTrader: (2)

Have a similar problem..But only when I turn left, and it's coming from the right hand side! Could a strut squeek? What if one would have a strut mounted bump stop (liek the one spohn sells)?

87Selene

I think mine does squeak more when turning left, lol
But my sound is coming from the left side....
I just don't want to replace the struts if that's not what's making the noise, until I can do them all the way around lol

And I'm not sure about the bump stop, since I don't use em

hellz_wings

iTrader: (2)

Must not be the bump stops then.. I doubted that anyway.. Could be the spring moving because I'm using UMI's a-arms that have no spring index point.. I really don't know. I hope you find a solution. I'm going to look into mine and let you know. I'm also going to install Koni Yellow struts so if that fixes it then it was the Tokico Blues that I have in there that are squeeking.

built91Z28

Spring shouldnt move when turning the wheel. The a-arm stays still so there is nothing turning against the spring.

hellz_wings

iTrader: (2)

Good point. Must be something related to the spindle/strut/ball joint then. I will grease everything once again and see if that cures the problem.

87Selene

Yeah mine is mostly stock suspension, no aftermarket a-arms, bushings, or hardly anything.... Yet. I think the previous owner put some shiney red struts in the back, but the front looks stock. I started thinking it was the spring squeaking because the car makes a similar squeak when I get in and out of the car (and when driving over a hilly section of road), and I'm only 160, so I'm hoping it's not me lol.
I may replace the balljoints too if I put the koni's in soon anyways... This squeak is just driving me crazy, it's embarrassing!

P.S. I love your car and everything you've done to it hellz_wings

hellz_wings

iTrader: (2)

hmm maybe check to see if your wheel bearings are loose maybe? Put the car on the lift and wiggle the wheel side to side.. If it moves side to side then the wheel bearings are bad.

87Selene

Hmmm, would the bearings squeak like that though?

I'll probably have to wait until the weekend to work on the car at all, but I'll check the bearings.

Have you figured anything out about yours?

hellz_wings

iTrader: (2)

nope but i am going to order the koni's and install those. I'll see if that solved the problem, if not then back to square 1 lol..

87Selene

Well.... I finally got a chance to take some pics at least... I'm really starting to think it's not the strut, sometimes the squeak almost goes away completely, but still squeaks while I'm parallel parking, which is weird...

I'm actually starting to get more worried about the bounce/rattle on the passenger side, I feel like the tire is gonna come off the car at times, but this is also kind of random, so I'm not sure what to think of it...

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

could be the angle of the pic, but it looks like your passengerside inner tie rod is bent pretty bad, and/or cross threaded int he adjuster sleeve



did the car jump a curb on that side or something? if so, and the inner tie rod bent, its possible the bearings are damaged, and maybe more

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

also missing a brace bolt on the driverside


odd to be missing it, is it broken off? check the frame along the side of the steering box for cracks

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

if you jack up the car, get the wheels off the ground, and grab and shake a wheel hard (not enough to knock the car over), does it had a lot of play or is it pretty solid? both sides.

87Selene

there is definitely play in the steering, but i thought that was because i havent had a machine alignment, only a by hand one. I might have bent that tie rod, i'll have to take a second look at it during the day.

and holy **** i just saw that bolt, ill look at that as well. Could that be causing the bad squeak if the bolt is missing? lol

It may not be until friday, but i'll try to have a look at it tomorrow if i can.

thanks a lot for the input, im trying to learn a lot of this for the first time, and work on it bit by bit

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

the bolt is just for a brace, some cars didnt even have the braces.

i vote its the bearings. If you take the wheel off, in teh center of the rotor/hub is a metal cap. It can be pryed out with a flat screwdriver, just tap it in between the cap and the hubs surface, work your way around and it will come out. that will expose the grease pack, spindle nut and bearings. pull the cotter pin and locking cap washer, and see if the castle nut is loose.

87Selene

ok cool, ill have a look and let you know what i find

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

Just an observation but, I thought Tie-rod ends were supposed to have castle nuts?

I could be wrong though.

hellz_wings

iTrader: (2)

I've had brace bolts, k-member bolts and all that loose before.. It's good to go over all the bolts once your down there just to check to make sure everything's tight.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

the sometimes do, but a locking nut works as well.

87Selene

Well the weather was too crappy to get anything done this weekend, of course. But I got under there and took a few more pics, and that tie rod straightened back out so I'm gonna replace the inner tie rods and the sleeves (they look terrible anyways)
I think I need to just get in there and replace all the bushings I can since everything looks pretty old and original lol

White'89

iTrader: (8)

From the pictures it looks to me like your tie rod ends are the only things that have been replaced.

87Selene

Yeah the car has had two pretty recent previous owners, so I'm trying to evaluate what has and hasn't been changed and what needs to be replaced sooner rather than later.

The motor hasn't given me any problems, it just has a small oil leak from one of the seals, so I wanted to fix up the suspension first, and all the small things before I tear into the motor (or start learning how to) since it's my DD