creaking front suspension

[thebern]

The front suspension creaks, snaps pops and grumbles when the weather is cold . This is new this winter as it didnot do this last year. Of particular concern is that when straightening the steering wheel after a left turn there is a distinc pop or grumble from the front left. Could this be a shock going bad, a wheel bearing or steering knuckle? I have used the search and have raised the car and checked the suspension, it all seems okay to me but I'm not exactly a front end guru!


thanks thebern

Just wondering if you saw my Mickey Mouse post, I am getting weird noises from the rear of my wagon only on hard right turns, can't figure out what is causing it. Perhaps your observation on temperature and weather may hold true for me also.

It is doubtful that the shocks are solely responsible for such noises.

The only way you will know is to use to raise the front of the car and use the "three P's," Push, Pull and Pry. Do this to all ball joints, control arm bushings and track rod mounts.

To check the lower ball joints you will need to put the floor jack under the lower control arm. For most everything else, you will need to support the chassis, preferably with jack stands under the unibody front "frame rails."

Good luck,

[ricali]

Had the same front end problem on my last two cars and both times it turned out to be worn sway bar bushings. You could see some rusty stuff coming from around the bushings. I know rust from rubber? No it was from the bar. BTW the metal on both bars was also worn some.
Good Luck