... I'd noticed a sort of creaking sound when turning the wheel to the right at slow speeds, coming from the left wheel, so I thought I'd check it out. Now, my checking out involves me wedged under the car with a low-powered flashlight, feeling around for problems I wouldn't recognize if they hit me in the face (which they do, since the car is on the ground). Anyhow, I couldn't really see anything obvious, so I went to look at the other side to compare ... well, my spring is completely cracked at the bottom on that side, like a displaced fracture, and it looks like it's been that way for a while. I haven't noticed any change in the way the car rides, but that can't be good! I also noticed that the tie rod ends on the left and right look different ... the bushing seems "flatter" on the left side (but looks/feels intact), while the one on the right sort of looks stretched out. Right tie rod end seems to be rotated so the top faces the back of the car instead of the sky. Is that abnormal? I'm not familiar with what these things are supposed to look like. I am pretty certain there is not supposed to be a huge, grotesque split in my freaking spring coil ... heh.

I'm taking this to the indy next week anyway, and will ask him all this then, but just curious what you all think. What else can I look for on the left side?

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)