Creaking noise from front suspension

[tangcla]

So I'm getting a creaking noise from the front of my car, usually happens when I'm going over a speed hump and it's on the downward side (if that makes sense).

I'm guessing it's either the sway bar bushes, that there's grit in the grease. Does this sound like a reasonable assumption?

[teK--]

Hey Tangles what do you have fitted at the front? I'd say it could be one of many urethane bushes which are dry, from swaybars to control arms or other.

One thing you can do is if you have ramps then drive up onto them. Get a helper to be under the car. You then open a front door and stand on the appropriate door sill and bounce up and down lightly to load the suspension. Can usually locate suspension noises quite easily this way.

[tangcla]

Selbys (Whiteline) front sway bar
JDM Spec.C alloy lower control arm
Whiteline tie rod ends
Whiteline rollcenter adjuster
AVO caster adjustment bushing (the tennisball)
Cusco lower arm brace (H brace)

[teK--]

I'd say swaybar bush or tennis ball. Alternatively H brace could be loose. Get your car up in the air and do the bounce test

[tangcla]

It's hard to get it onto ramps

[teK--]

Use timber sleepers to help your car onto the ramps

Or, build your own low profile ramps:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8405&hilit=+ramp

Probably one of my best home made constructions. I can get the car up in the air in a couple of minutes if I need to quickly check something or change the oil etc.

[Kekotic]

How much did you have to sand the edges down on that timber.
Looks tyre popping worthy?

Also have you changed the endlinks on your car Clarence?
Could be that if your noticing it coming from a specific side of the car.

[tangcla]

Also have you changed the endlinks on your car Clarence?
Could be that if your noticing it coming from a specific side of the car.

Yes I did, still grease-filled bearing type so it shouldn't make noise, but I guess I'll check them eventually too.

[teK--]

Those AVO ones (if you have em Clarence) are pretty good, similar to OEM design. I have heard of the threads stripping off in normal use, but that would be a knocking rather than creaking sound.

Just stick your head under and have a looksy

Didn't sand anything on those ramps Kieran, and they don't pop anything.

[Kekotic]

Didn't sand anything on those ramps Kieran, and they don't pop anything.

Well obviously they haven't popped anything or you wouldn't be telling us how good they are
I might make myself a set.

Just I have seen someone pop an X5 tyre on a concrete edge that was only a few cm higher than the ground they were already on, so I'm a little wary.

[Greenman]

I'd put money on the sway bar bush...similar thing happened in my Foz on the Drivers side.
Replaced and no problems since.

[tangcla]

Those AVO ones (if you have em Clarence) are pretty good, similar to OEM design. I have heard of the threads stripping off in normal use, but that would be a knocking rather than creaking sound.

Yep they're the ones, the ones with adjustable length.

What affect would the length have - just preload on the sway bar?

[teK--]

The adjustable length is to suit different ride heights. Ideally the endlinks are set up so they are perpendicular with the ground, but in practice they may be on a slight angle which is OK. If they are on too much of an angle the endlinks will bind (common when people fit their swaybars upside down and the links are on a 45deg angle or something).

[tangcla]

So the adjusted longer/shorter length is to alleviate the preload on a swaybar then?

[teK--]

Nah nothing to do with preload. Unless you set one link to be longer than the other If both wheels at same height or links at same length then there is no preload.