So what was the culprit causing my steering column to creak? A loose axle. All that was done was a 10 minute job of tighting it back up and voila...everything's like butter again. As previously suspected months ago, my CV boots are NOT ripped -- so I'm glad to have saw that today. I had the car raised and my mechanic started pushing the wheel and I saw it wobbling back and forth a little. After he tightened up both sides, the wobble was gone.

Woo!

 

nice,its always a good feeling when its something easier and less expensive then you thought...

 

Sure is. It didn't cost me much either.

 

arnold, was the steering wheel shaking from left to right while speeding at around 30mph?
and when on the lift, what was your front wheel doing wrong?
im having my front wheels a little easy to wobble by hand while on the lift (if i grab the front wheel with my both hands at 9oclock and 3oclock, and wiggle the wheel, its kindda loose...)
is it what you had? the mechanic told me its the inner tie rod, but was wondering how you tightened the axle...

I too would like to have a 10 minutes-almost-free-repair!!!

thanks arnold.

 

Any clunking/popping when you turned the steering wheel especially noticeable at low speeds say parking the car?

 

hum this sounds like me.....any idea ??? i almost always happens at lower speeds..parking the car... it sounds like a knocking on wood slowly kinda sound.

 

what exactly did he tighten up???

 

Ditto. Was it the axle to hub nut? If it was that bad of a wobble I am wondering if the bearings are worn?

 

Yes. It was the axle hub nut.

 

Hey Arnold, I think I have the same problem. A while back i cracked the axle and broke the lower control arm. A little after the repairs I have been getting this creeking noise, but only at slow speeds like when getting out of a parking spot when turning the steering wheel. Was this similar to your problem?
Thanks for any help

 

Yep. But only when the car is in a driving gear.