Hey guys,

My car has been making this noise forever, ive put up with it because it only does it when im in reverse and turning. This weekend i replaced all the steering linkages and idler arm, but it still makes this creaking noise.

It sounds like its coming from the front passenger side but i know sound can travel. Its like a creaking/popping sound when im reversing and turning. Sometimes it will make one creak when just reversing going straight too but not all the time.

Im at a bit of a loss because ive now replaced just about everything under there, its had new struts, all new brakes, new endlinks, new swaybar bushes, new balljoints, new A-arm bushes and its still an old rattly car !, ive even fitted a wonderbar from a Camaro.

 

did you check that the tire rubs with plastic cover of the weel well?

 

Did you look for cracks around your steering gear?

Wheel bearings?

Have someone else drive it and you stand outside and listen to know where its coming from.

 

lower ball joint, grease them.... see if it goes away

 

my car did it even with new ones, some times when you replace them they arent packed full of grease

 

The tyres dont rub anywhere no, ive fitted 14" turbocasts with 205 tyres on so they dont go anywhere near.

I havnt checked for cracks anywhere but around the steering box, i know they crack around the steering box but theres no cracks there, i checked that before fitting the wonderbar.

I put a ton of grease in the ball joints when i refitted the A-arms. I will do it again though just to make sure.

 

How i found the cracks behind my steering gearbox was, i put the front up on ramps and had the wife turn the wheel back and forth (slightly, just enough to show play in the front). The steering gearbox moved back and forth more than the tires. but i had "play" in my steering that led me to looking. I don't remember having a noise but ya never know.That part of the frame is well lubricated from when my power steering leaked. It's always worth looking.

 

When you grease the ball joints, jack the car up with the jack under the a-arm. This takes the load off the joint and they 'accept' the grease easier/better.

For the creaking, check the 6 bolts that hold the k-member to the uni-body. They have been known to not only come loose but to fall out. There is a thread here where I posted a picture of the bolt locations and torque spec.

RBob.

 

Thanks guys, i will have a good check under the car tonight hopefully. I will definatley put more grease in the balljoints.

And i will check these bolts too

 

RBob, you got it with the K member bolts !

I had the car at a garage today to get the wheel alignment done, then the guy jacked it up to check everything was tight, so while he was under there i said can you check these bolts for me on the the passenger side, and what do you know. one was completely loose, you could turn it with your fingers, and another was fairly loose, so everything is nice and tight again, drivers side was ok, he nipped one of them up a little.

So the moment of truth when i backed the car out of the garage and turned.....no creaking, woohoo !