what's that noise?
02-05-2003, 01:24 PM
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4
what's that noise?
Hello all, I have a question about a creaking coming from driver's side front. I test drove another maxima with the same sound and dealer said it was nothing--i passed that car up, but now the one i do have is making the same sound. It is a rather loud creaking when turning and sometimes when i hit a bump--the colder the weather the worse it is. I consider it rather loud b/c i can hear it with windows up and radio on. My dad wonders about a CV joint, and my boyfriend is playing it safe and not making any suggestions. I've looked at the CV boot and it is intact--not split or torn at the clamps. Any ideas would be appreciated, as well as lehman's terms--but please don't treat me like the guys at parts stores do ("this is where the oil goes..." 
Thanks in advance,
carrie
Thanks in advance,
carrie
02-05-2003, 01:57 PM
#2
Re: what's that noise?
Originally posted by LilRQ1
Hello all, I have a question about a creaking coming from driver's side front. I test drove another maxima with the same sound and dealer said it was nothing--i passed that car up, but now the one i do have is making the same sound. It is a rather loud creaking when turning and sometimes when i hit a bump--the colder the weather the worse it is. I consider it rather loud b/c i can hear it with windows up and radio on. My dad wonders about a CV joint, and my boyfriend is playing it safe and not making any suggestions. I've looked at the CV boot and it is intact--not split or torn at the clamps. Any ideas would be appreciated, as well as lehman's terms--but please don't treat me like the guys at parts stores do ("this is where the oil goes..."
Thanks in advance,
carrie
Hello all, I have a question about a creaking coming from driver's side front. I test drove another maxima with the same sound and dealer said it was nothing--i passed that car up, but now the one i do have is making the same sound. It is a rather loud creaking when turning and sometimes when i hit a bump--the colder the weather the worse it is. I consider it rather loud b/c i can hear it with windows up and radio on. My dad wonders about a CV joint, and my boyfriend is playing it safe and not making any suggestions. I've looked at the CV boot and it is intact--not split or torn at the clamps. Any ideas would be appreciated, as well as lehman's terms--but please don't treat me like the guys at parts stores do ("this is where the oil goes..."
Thanks in advance,
carrie
motorvate
02-05-2003, 02:19 PM
#3
I think mine has the same creaking noise. Had the same kind of issue on my older integra and never really got it looked at.
I'm not thinking strut bearing because as motorvate states it, that's more of a crunk-crunk-crunk, and can be tested simply by turning the wheels. This is just a "Squeeeeeeak" with the wheels pointed perfectly straight if the nose of the car dives and raises (on mine, just a little even and it'll make the noise). But not if I say, push down on the nose of the car myself when it's not in motion. It's a LOT more noticable in extreme temperatures too...when it's in the 60s or so you can't really hear it, but hot or cold, and it's fairly loud and barely when the nose dips at all.
With the integra the shops that looked at it always told me it was bushings. Not specific though, they said they'd just try different ones until it was resolved.
Sounds plausable to me that it could be a bushing. Mine is from the passenger side though. I need to examine the different bushings involved in our suspension and get replacements with the plan to install them with my replacement struts, when it gets warmer outside.
I'm not thinking strut bearing because as motorvate states it, that's more of a crunk-crunk-crunk, and can be tested simply by turning the wheels. This is just a "Squeeeeeeak" with the wheels pointed perfectly straight if the nose of the car dives and raises (on mine, just a little even and it'll make the noise). But not if I say, push down on the nose of the car myself when it's not in motion. It's a LOT more noticable in extreme temperatures too...when it's in the 60s or so you can't really hear it, but hot or cold, and it's fairly loud and barely when the nose dips at all.
With the integra the shops that looked at it always told me it was bushings. Not specific though, they said they'd just try different ones until it was resolved.
Sounds plausable to me that it could be a bushing. Mine is from the passenger side though. I need to examine the different bushings involved in our suspension and get replacements with the plan to install them with my replacement struts, when it gets warmer outside.
02-05-2003, 05:12 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Williamstown, NJ
Posts: 602
When I did my ES bushings on my car I noticed a creak/squeak coming from the front-end after a few weeks. Diagnosis: swaybar bushings were bone dry and needed grease. I'd definately recommend you check those (even though they arent ES bushings) and see if they need a lil grease. Hope this helps ya.
02-05-2003, 06:35 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 866
Originally posted by blizz20oma
I think mine has the same creaking noise. Had the same kind of issue on my older integra and never really got it looked at.
I'm not thinking strut bearing because as motorvate states it, that's more of a crunk-crunk-crunk, and can be tested simply by turning the wheels. This is just a "Squeeeeeeak" with the wheels pointed perfectly straight if the nose of the car dives and raises (on mine, just a little even and it'll make the noise). But not if I say, push down on the nose of the car myself when it's not in motion. It's a LOT more noticable in extreme temperatures too...when it's in the 60s or so you can't really hear it, but hot or cold, and it's fairly loud and barely when the nose dips at all.
With the integra the shops that looked at it always told me it was bushings. Not specific though, they said they'd just try different ones until it was resolved.
Sounds plausable to me that it could be a bushing. Mine is from the passenger side though. I need to examine the different bushings involved in our suspension and get replacements with the plan to install them with my replacement struts, when it gets warmer outside.
I think mine has the same creaking noise. Had the same kind of issue on my older integra and never really got it looked at.
I'm not thinking strut bearing because as motorvate states it, that's more of a crunk-crunk-crunk, and can be tested simply by turning the wheels. This is just a "Squeeeeeeak" with the wheels pointed perfectly straight if the nose of the car dives and raises (on mine, just a little even and it'll make the noise). But not if I say, push down on the nose of the car myself when it's not in motion. It's a LOT more noticable in extreme temperatures too...when it's in the 60s or so you can't really hear it, but hot or cold, and it's fairly loud and barely when the nose dips at all.
With the integra the shops that looked at it always told me it was bushings. Not specific though, they said they'd just try different ones until it was resolved.
Sounds plausable to me that it could be a bushing. Mine is from the passenger side though. I need to examine the different bushings involved in our suspension and get replacements with the plan to install them with my replacement struts, when it gets warmer outside.
And like KMax2988 said, it could be from dry bushings, especially if you've got polyurethane. Polyurethane bushings really squeak if not greased, and especially in cold and/or damp weather.
You can have a friend try pushing down on your front end while you try to locate the noise. I don't know if it is just my SE (stock suspension, 72,000 miles), or my light as$, but it may take a couple friends to get the front end moving well enough to duplicate the noise. If you're lowered, make sure they are really big friends!
Hope this helps.
Dave
02-05-2003, 06:58 PM
#6
For the record I'm completely stock (SE), suspension-wise. The only time I've been able to reproduce the creak when the car was stationary was when one of my bigger friends in the passenger seat got out, in extremely hot weather.
02-05-2003, 07:35 PM
#8
There aren't any grease points in our car right?
Thats basically why I just plan to replace bushings up front.
02-05-2003, 07:49 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Williamstown, NJ
Posts: 602
Originally posted by blizz20oma
When I asked an infiniti dealership in town to grease my front suspension, that's what they told me - there weren't any grease points. So I'm a little confused when people say to grease the bushings - I guess I don't understand what's meant by 'grease point' fully. ie, points that you can access without actually taking things apart/taking bushings out?
Thats basically why I just plan to replace bushings up front.
When I asked an infiniti dealership in town to grease my front suspension, that's what they told me - there weren't any grease points. So I'm a little confused when people say to grease the bushings - I guess I don't understand what's meant by 'grease point' fully. ie, points that you can access without actually taking things apart/taking bushings out?
Thats basically why I just plan to replace bushings up front.
02-05-2003, 11:25 PM
#10
You can spray wd40 or lithium grease at the bushing 1 at a time until the creaking or squeaking sound go away,then change or toke it apart and put some grease on it.Hope this help and good luck.
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