ok so now i've got this noise coming from my front right wheel... when I turn the wheel to the right it pops and makes a creaking sound (sounds like maybe spring seated improperly?) and then when I turn the wheel back to the left when it crosses a certain point it pops again.. a bit louder than before.. there's also a little noise coming from the front right when i hit small bumps sometimes... it doesnt sound like cv joint, my noise sounds different than cv joint..and i took a look at the cv boot and it looks fine

so ive come up with these possible problems...
-improperly seated spring..
-bad strut bearing
-something is loose.. not sure what.

background: tein-s tech springs, stock struts (not blown-yet), just had alignment done


any ideas? thanks in advance

 

Your strut mounts are probably not seated the right way. Make sure the arrows are pointed outward from the car on each side.

 

Popping sound while turning usually means strut bearing.

 

I had the exact same poping sounds. Did you put the spring isolaters on? The little rubber sleeves from the OEM springs on? I put those on and the popping stopped.

 

i believe this is the strut bearing or the strut mount as well....i have the same problem

 

join the club. I have the same problem occationally. I think it is the upper strut mount. The D shaped hole that the top of the piston fits into is loose on my car. I inspected all the parts and thats the only one with play. The creaks go away if you wrap the springs.

 

Maxima99SEbose, I'm getting the same noise from my right side as well. Took my car to an alignment shop today and was told that it was probably from the strut mount bearing. Can anyone tell me how to determine if the bearing if worn out? I did a visual inspection before I installed it back and that little plastic ring looked in good condition. Just wanted to make sure it's that component since that stupid little piece of plastic goes for $35 a pop.

 

thanks for all the info guys im gonna take it all apart asap (couple of days) and i'll post what the final solution was

 

With the car parked, just turn the steering wheel all the way to each side. If you hear the popping sound it's the bearing, the bearing winds up instead of turning and that causes the pop. You can't really do a visual inspection without taking the whole strut/spring out.

 

Just be sure to check the bearing and the mounts are seated properly. I've had worn bushings and not had noise but when the mounts weren't sitting right, I had noise out the ****.

 

This is a bearing problem. I had the same problem. When I took them out, they LOOKED fine. But with the new ones in, the noise is gone!!!

 

I just changed both strut bearings and dust boots today. Really easy job guys. Made the sound go away.

 

that's EXACTLY my problem.. thanks

 

No problem.

 

Could be a ball joint....same issues here, but definatly the ball joint

 

yea check and make sure you put the rubber sleeves that were one the bottom of the stock springs aroudn the bottom of the new springs. also make sure you tignted everything dow to specs,a dn make sure your lugs are tight on both sides.

 

aren't the bearings part of the whole strut mount assembly for the front?
And the rears just have an upper plate where the coils sit. I haven't noticed any bearings.

 

the teins came with rubber sleeves already on them, im gonna take everything apart one night next week when I have time and see what the deal is.. my friend josh says it's the strut bearing, he had the same problem Im having