Creaking when steering

jdeale84 · Post by **jdeale84** » Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:36 am

Hi All,

My car has begun to creak very loudly when I am steering at low speeds, below is a link to a video of the sound its making.

https://youtube.com/shorts/pE2l80zOxl4?feature=share

It started after hitting a large pot hole and hasn't gone away at all.
I have looked at the PSF and it is fine, I even replaced some of it because I think I found a very minor leak, but that hasn't done anything for the creaking.
It's very hard to locate the sound, I have been under the car and it doesn't seem like its coming from any of the suspension components, it really sounds like its coming from nearer the centre of the car, maybe just before the inner tie rod.
The steering feels okay, haven't felt any changes or problems and I've googled everything and no one seems to have the exact problem I have.

Any thoughts?

Post by **Vtecmec** » Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:53 am

I can't see the video as its marked private.

jdeale84 · Post by **jdeale84** » Thu Feb 22, 2024 1:54 pm

Oops, I've just made it public

Post by **Vtecmec** » Thu Feb 22, 2024 2:47 pm

Ooh, that noise would do my head in.

It could be a number of things, springs or bushes maybe, ideally you need to get in in the air under its own weight to get your ear right at the source of the noise to pinpoint it.

Post by **vanzep** » Thu Feb 22, 2024 4:24 pm

Pot holes are a menace - personally if you have had a big hit from a pot hole then I would take it to a garage as they have the lifts/pits needed to check the suspension over. Just for peace of mind.

Normally it is the rubber coil isolator that sits on the top of the spring that can start to squeak.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Fri Feb 23, 2024 11:11 am

Yep that wouldn't have anything to do with power steering fluid.

If it happened after hitting a pot-hole, on any car with a macpherson strut, my money would on broken coil spring - but that doesn't apply to the lude of course.
As mec says, need to be under the car with the weight sat on it and someone else turning the wheel, to locate that.
Easy with a 4 post lift, not so easy without...

jdeale84 · Post by **jdeale84** » Tue Mar 05, 2024 12:29 pm

The sound has since mysteriously disappeared, it was paired with a clunking when I brake, which has gone too. I'll let you guys know if it returns hopefully I can pick it up straight away and sort it out. Thankfully parking isn't so embarrassing now

Post by **Drax** » Tue Mar 05, 2024 12:56 pm

ive had this sometimes on my 4G, it comes and goes which is good but also annoying as i'd rather find & sort the issue lol

Post by **Vtecmec** » Tue Mar 05, 2024 12:59 pm

jdeale84 wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 05, 2024 12:29 pm
The sound has since mysteriously disappeared, it was paired with a clunking when I brake, which has gone too.

Check the tightness of the radius rod bolts in the front subframe, they are known to come undone and would clunk under braking as well as possibly be the source of the noise.

jdeale84 · Post by **jdeale84** » Sun May 19, 2024 11:47 am

The sound has gone away for some time now, I've had a thought, I think I may have been putting a jackstand under the part of the car where its not meant to go and possibly crushing a bushing this way. Think it may have been under the steering gear box bushing, oops. I haven't done that in a while now so hopefully the creaking is gone for good. I only did it to get the car higher up when working under it.