1997 Legacy GT - Squaking Creaking Sound - Diagnosis Needed - Video Link...

[BoardRider]

Hey everyone. I'm getting this squaking creaking sound from my front left (driver's) side wheel area. It only happens when I'm turning the wheel any amount to the left. Happens in neutral, when speeding up, or braking (all of the above). I took the wheel off yesterday and looked around. CV boot looks good. No grease around boot. Checked the strut top mount bolts, they are tight.

I attached a video to aid in explanation and reduce misinterpretation...

YouTube- Car Squeak.wmv

YouTube- Car Squeak.wmv

Any ideas???

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[Frogsthatmoo]

Those are shiny brake rotors.

Sounds like the tie rod end to me though. Or the rack? Squeaks can be a many number of things though. Maybe put the car in the air and get someone to turn the wheel so you can just pinpoint the sound (unless it doesn't happen when there's no load on the wheel).

[BoardRider]

What do you mean "the rack?"

Has anyone had a similar noise that only happens when the wheel is turned only one direction (in my case to the left)?

Hopefully I can get it up in the air again this weekend and take a look. The Seattle rain is supposed to go away for a while starting tomorrow!

[kirbykirb]

Could be as simple as overtightened lug nuts.

[Frogsthatmoo]

The steering rack.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/steering2.htm

[brodie.gordon]

i agree with frog on the tie rod end. it sounds like it needs more lubrication. i don't think you could do that without take it apart though.

[BoardRider]

How do you lubricate the tie rod end?

[Frogsthatmoo]

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=578989


some good info in there. I'll reiterate what I initially said, put the car in the air and try to actually find where the noise is coming from.

[brodie.gordon]

Originally Posted by BoardRider

How do you lubricate the tie rod end?

sorry, i meant the hub knuckle in which you would have to pry off with a pickle fork.

[BoardRider]

Originally Posted by brodie.gordon

sorry, i meant the hub knuckle in which you would have to pry off with a pickle fork.

What is the hub knuckle?

So, I spent a few hours today and did a few things (see picture below):

1. Replaced my front rotors and pads (the rotors were just below the recommended replacement thickness, and the pads were getting low)

2. Took the front left (driver's side) tie rod end out and greased the shaft that went through the fitting (it was very dry). The little boot on it seemed to have sufficient grease inside.

3. Greased both my front sway bar end links. They weren't too dry.

Put everything back together and did a few laps around the block and didn't hear any creaking or squeaking! Thanks for the suggestions everyone! Let's hope that did the trick.

This view looks aft toward driver's side front wheel:

[brodie.gordon]

it is right under the cv boot. it sounds like you figured it out though. hope that you are now squeaky free.

[Frogsthatmoo]

How many miles do you have on your car?

[BoardRider]

It's baaaaack! I started hearing the noise a little bit on my drive to work this morning. It's not as bad as it was before, but I'm guessing it will get there again. Maybe taking everything apart yesterday just temporarily relieved some of the "tension" in the squeaking area...

Originally Posted by brodie.gordon

it is right under the cv boot. it sounds like you figured it out though. hope that you are now squeaky free.

Looks like this may be my next area to research and address. Any tips on how to grease/lube it?

Originally Posted by Frogsthatmoo

How many miles do you have on your car?

About 183k

[Patrick Olsen]

Originally Posted by brodie.gordon

sorry, i meant the hub knuckle...

I'm curious what you're talking about, too. There's a hub, which is the thing that the brake rotor and wheel ride on. And then there's a knuckle, which is the big chunk of metal that the hub goes into (supported by the wheel bearing) and the caliper and strut are bolted to. Also referred to as a spindle. I've never heard of a "hub knuckle".

frogsthatmoo's suggestion is the best, I think. Get the front end up on jackstands and see if you can recreate the noise. If the noise goes away when there's no weight on that corner, then you're back to step 0. If there is still noise, then localize the source. My guess is it is the balljoint or the tie rod end, but I dunno - I've never heard such a noise before.

Pat Olsen

[Frogsthatmoo]

That's not bad, very close to mine. I still have a feeling that it's the tie rod end. When you took it apart, could you see any areas of abnormally shiny metal (signs of rubbing)?

[BoardRider]

Unfortunately I couldn't generate the noise yesterday when I had the front end up on jacks. I may try again after work while it's on the ground (with the car off) and have my friend turn the steering wheel while I grab different components under there to see if I can feel where the creaking is originating.

Originally Posted by Frogsthatmoo

That's not bad, very close to mine. I still have a feeling that it's the tie rod end. When you took it apart, could you see any areas of abnormally shiny metal (signs of rubbing)?

I didn't take any of the tie rod apart. I only removed the "bolt" section of that tie rod end from the fitting. When I pulled that tie rod end out of the fitting I didn't notice any abnormal wear. Like I said, it was very dry so I put grease all around it before reinstalling. I was hoping that was where the noise was coming from and the grease would solve it....

[brodie.gordon]

Originally Posted by Patrick Olsen

I'm curious what you're talking about, too. There's a hub, which is the thing that the brake rotor and wheel ride on. And then there's a knuckle, which is the big chunk of metal that the hub goes into (supported by the wheel bearing) and the caliper and strut are bolted to. Also referred to as a spindle. I've never heard of a "hub knuckle".

frogsthatmoo's suggestion is the best, I think. Get the front end up on jackstands and see if you can recreate the noise. If the noise goes away when there's no weight on that corner, then you're back to step 0. If there is still noise, then localize the source. My guess is it is the balljoint or the tie rod end, but I dunno - I've never heard such a noise before.

Pat Olsen

sorry about the titles of parts i am referring to. i may not know the exact title but i know that it is just under the cv boot and must be pried off with a pickle fork to pop it loose. i am thinking that it may be dry and need to be greased. i am pretty sure the only way to go about greasing it would be by prying it apart as well removing the hub nut and swinging the rotor away from the drive axle. again sorry about the title confusion.

as far as greasing that area, i would just say grease thoroughly when you have it pulled apart as well as inside the hole that the drive axle passes through.

[BoardRider]

Is the circled area what you are referring to as the "hub knuckle?" This mounts to the control arm I believe...

This view looks outward from the driver's side front wheel area:

[brodie.gordon]

yes! exactly! i have heard the sound from the video that you posted before on my legacy wagon and after i did my cv boot that was torn i also greased that knuckle after i popped it loose, i remember the creek went away after i greased it as well as where the drive axle passes through the hole. i hope that this helps and may solve your problem.

[BoardRider]

Do I have to take anything apart to grease that or can I just pop the rubber "boot" off and push grease in?

Sorry for all the questions. I'm mechanically inclined but a n00b to this system and area of my car.

I also took more video of the car in motion since the original one didn't get much of that. Could it be the wheel bearing?

YouTube- Car Squeak 2

YouTube- Car Squeak 2

Thanks again to eveyone for all the input!

[brodie.gordon]

you could try just pulling up that boot and putting grease it. it couldn't hurt anything unless it gets torn in the process. sometimes boots can get brittle. i would also recommend looking at your strut and spring and see if anything looks weird there. i know of the bottom of the springs there is rubber that contours to the spring that buffers between the spring and the strut at the bottom. sometimes they slip off and can cause noise. the second video which shows squeaking while not even turning adds to question of what it could be.

typically that part would be popped off though to be greased properly but i would say try putting it on without doing that just to see if it helps.

i wouldn't think that it would be the bearings because the boot is not torn so there should still be grease in it to prevent the bearings from going bad.

[BoardRider]

I'll see if I can't get some grease in there after work today without having to take anything apart.

The weird part is that it only makes that squeaking noise when the wheel is turned to the left (any slight amount, even just slight steering corrections whilst driving forward). If I go straight or to the right I don't hear it.

Noise, where are you?!!!!

[BoardRider]

After looking around for the sound under my car again today I realized there was some play in the wheel. From what I've read this might very well be a bearing issue. What do you think? I checked the other side and it doesn't do it on the right wheel... But if it's the bearing, would it still make that noise when only turning one direction?

YouTube- Car Squeak 3 - Bearing?

YouTube- Car Squeak 3 - Bearing?

[Frogsthatmoo]

Very interesting... this seems like it could possibly the control arm. In your picture, the circled thing is now your best bet at what the noise is, especially since that amount of movement isn't right.

[brodie.gordon]

did you also check the plastic guard on the spring at the bottom where it sits on the strut? i know that they slip off and cause squeaking sometimes.

the play in your wheels does make me think that there is something up with the control arm and or bearings.