CyCloNe!

Hey guys I'm getting this horrible creaking sound most of the time when I'm turning at very slow speeds or like backing in a parking space. I replaced my strut assemblies and de-powered my rack months ago and it was already present before that just not as often or as loud but present none the less. I just replaced my sway bar bushings with urethane and now I hear it bad and all the time. A friend mentioned it could be my ball joints so I'm getting ready to do control arm overhaul and want to see if any body has another idea? Sounds more dominate on the passenger side but still both sides are doing it.

Thanks for the input!

MAGK944

By "creek" do you mean a metal-to-metal grinding sound? Worn top strut mount bearings will grind when worn, control arm joints will knock when worn as there are no bearings in there to grind.

Generally bearings grind, ball-joints knock.

CyCloNe!

It's a creeeeeeeeaaaaaaak when I turn most of the time at really slow speeds. The strut assemblies had mounts and everything so it's all new, stink if both are bad. Gave me something to look into though. Any other ideas by chance?

Jay W

I have heard ball joints on 928s make a loud creaking noise when turning the steering wheel. Kind of like the sound you hear when pulling a nail out of a dry board. Probably caused when the plastic carriers inside the ball joint break away and the ball is contacting the aluminum control arm housing. Grease does not help the noise go away.

CyCloNe!

^ that analogy is what it sort of sounds like.

CyCloNe!

bump

mytrplseven

I had a clunking sound in my 944 na and it was tied to a frozen front strut. It sounded like a loose wheel. I would suggest opening the hood and pushing up and down on the front bumper on both corners. If you can't get full up and down movement on one, it's a frozen strut. If they do move normally, look at the top of the strut mounts (remove the plastic cover on the strut mount) and look to see if the strut mount screw is moving in the mount. It shouldn't. On the rears, do the same but you won't be able to check anythingn other than shock rebound and maybe locating if the problem is from the front or rear.

MAGK944

Jack the front and turn the wheels, see if you can replicate it while stationary. If not try a large screwdriver on all the bushes and joints to see if there is any movement/wear. Use a prying motion with the screwdriver against the a-arm bushes, steering and control arm ball joints to track it down.

CyCloNe!

Thanks for the insight guys, I'll let you know what I find!

SalzundPfeffer

Sounds like a similar problem I had on my '84. Creaking noise during slow speed turns. I had a coworker stand in the parking lot while I did circles around him to pinpoint where the sound was coming from. We traced it to the left rear wheel. Assuming it was a bad wheel bearing, I ordered all the parts to do the job.

As I was doing dis-assembly, the axle castle nut wasn't tight. I was expecting to use an impact wrench to get that motha off, but it was finger tight iirc. Cotter pin saved the day. I went ahead and did the bearing since I had the parts already and the sound went away. So, I can't tell you with 100% confidence that it was the loose castle nut making the sound, but it seemed awfully suspicious.

The car would only make the sound during left hand turns (when physics are trying to pull the left wheels off). So it seems to make sense that the loose nut might have had something to do with the sound.

Good luck.

CyCloNe!

Found out it was my ball joints, the passenger side when off the car could be pull up and down making popping noises so it was by grace that sucker didn't fully go on me.