Front End Creaking

jake_zx2

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Hey guys, having a strange problem. So, I swapped out my suspension for about a month or so, then after a few track days, switched back to stock. I didn't have this issue before the swap, so it's interesting to me that's its just now occurring. I'm having a very loud, noticeable creak from the front end when I turn the wheel at very low speeds or full stops. it seems to get progressively louder as the wheel is turned further off center. The spring isolators are installed, and I replaced the tie rod ends thinking that could be the problem, but it didn't fix it. Any thoughts on what this could be? Is it possible that I maybe installed the front springs upside down (is there even a designated direction they should be facing)? when I installed the strut mounts, I installed them with the arrow facing the outside of the car... was that incorrect maybe?
 

07 Boss

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did you install new strut mounts when you did the suspension, or reuse the old ones?
 

jake_zx2

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Nope, same old ones... car only has 45k miles, and the strut mounts were fine before and looked fine after visual inspection
 

07 Boss

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Nope, same old ones... car only has 45k miles, and the strut mounts were fine before and looked fine after visual inspection


Yeah but they tend to not last that long. And I think the more times you take the front end apart accelerates the process for some reason. Seems like when I was constantly changing springs and struts I had to replace them a few times. Since finally settling on a set up it's been years since I heard them creak.

But double check the obvious stuff. Make sure bushings and stuff are lubed properly. Double check sway bar links. Got a feeling though next time you take apart the front end, the ball bearings are going to drop all over the floor.
 

86GT351

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I would spray some lube on the strut mounts through the top opening and see if it goes away or gets better. By disrupting the suspension, that might have caused the concern.
 

jake_zx2

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Actually, I noticed today that the front of my car is now sitting a good bit higher than the rear... could that have something to do with it??
 

jake_zx2

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I would spray some lube on the strut mounts through the top opening and see if it goes away or gets better. By disrupting the suspension, that might have caused the concern.

Any specific kind of lube? Or just some WD-40 or something
 

07 Boss

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Hey guys, having a strange problem. So, I swapped out my suspension for about a month or so, then after a few track days, switched back to stock. I didn't have this issue before the swap, so it's interesting to me that's its just now occurring. I'm having a very loud, noticeable creak from the front end when I turn the wheel at very low speeds or full stops. it seems to get progressively louder as the wheel is turned further off center. The spring isolators are installed, and I replaced the tie rod ends thinking that could be the problem, but it didn't fix it. Any thoughts on what this could be? Is it possible that I maybe installed the front springs upside down (is there even a designated direction they should be facing)? when I installed the strut mounts, I installed them with the arrow facing the outside of the car... was that incorrect maybe?

Actually, I noticed today that the front of my car is now sitting a good bit higher than the rear... could that have something to do with it??


The rear of the car should be higher than the front with the stock suspension. At least that is how I remember it.

Did you assemble the struts off the car or did you leave the mounts in and jack the spring and strut up to the mount? Reason why I ask is IF you installed the springs upside down the only way you could do that would be by jacking the spring and strut up to the mount, and even then I don't think it is really possible to do that. But it would account for the front being too high as the spring would not seat properly and it would moan or creak also. But I think this is a far reach as they are almost impossible to install upside down without noticing anything during the install.
 

oldVOR

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The rear of the car should be higher than the front with the stock suspension. At least that is how I remember it.

Did you assemble the struts off the car or did you leave the mounts in and jack the spring and strut up to the mount? Reason why I ask is IF you installed the springs upside down the only way you could do that would be by jacking the spring and strut up to the mount, and even then I don't think it is really possible to do that. But it would account for the front being too high as the spring would not seat properly and it would moan or creak also. But I think this is a far reach as they are almost impossible to install upside down without noticing anything during the install.

I agree with 07 Boss on this.
To rule this out, take a wheel off and post a pic of the strut/spring as it is presently assembled.
 

bujeezus

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The front springs are smaller on top than the bottom so how could he have installed them upside down? Maybe the springs aren't seated in the notches and that's why it's sitting higher? Didn't Skyrender have a similar issue and it turned out to be the bushings in his sway bar saddle mounts?
 

jake_zx2

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I'll have to check and take a picture next time I get the car in the garage. I doubt the spring is upside down, I just couldn't remember offhand if there was a diffeeence in size from top to bottom. I assembled the strut/spring/mount off the car using a spring compressor. I'm pretty sure the spring is properly seated, but I'all double check, and I'll also try the WD-40 trick to see if it changes anything. However, bejeezus mentioning the sway bar does remind me that, for some reason, the end links were a BITCH to get them to line up with the mount point on the strut, and I hadn't had that issue when I removed the stock suspension or when I installed the lowered suspension.
 

jake_zx2

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Now that I think about it, I'm dumb for mentioning the ride height difference because I just remembered that I have probably around 150lbs+ worth of car parts sitting in my trunk, so that's more than likely the reason for that
 

Norm Peterson

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Now that I think about it, I'm dumb for mentioning the ride height difference because I just remembered that I have probably around 150lbs+ worth of car parts sitting in my trunk, so that's more than likely the reason for that
That could account for 1/2" or a bit more that the rear would be sitting "low".


Norm
 

brembo12

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Hey guys, having a strange problem. So, I swapped out my suspension for about a month or so, then after a few track days, switched back to stock. I didn't have this issue before the swap, so it's interesting to me that's its just now occurring. I'm having a very loud, noticeable creak from the front end when I turn the wheel at very low speeds or full stops. it seems to get progressively louder as the wheel is turned further off center. The spring isolators are installed, and I replaced the tie rod ends thinking that could be the problem, but it didn't fix it. Any thoughts on what this could be? Is it possible that I maybe installed the front springs upside down (is there even a designated direction they should be facing)? when I installed the strut mounts, I installed them with the arrow facing the outside of the car... was that incorrect maybe?


Strut mount arrows face the engine on my Focus ST....on my 12 GT not sure (will check soon lmao)

https://www.americanmuscle.com/frpp-gt500-strutmount-0512-install.html

CAMBER CHANGE in/out guys doing them both ways
 
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jake_zx2

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Hey guys, sorry for the delay, benn real busy with work. should be able to get the car up on a lift today. However, I did just think of something... I'm 100% sure that I overtorqued the top strut bolt. I was in a rush, they didn't have the tool necessary to torque it to spec, and I had to get it on the car and go, so I just used an impact and tightened the HELL out of it. Like I said, I'll take it to the garage today and try to loosen that bolt a bit, try the WD40 to see what happens, and take pictures of all the suspension components
 

jake_zx2

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So, just got done in the garage... I loosened all the strut mount bolts and torqued them to spec, and the creaking is gone for the most part. It only seems to happen at full steering lock. For safe measures, I sprayed some WD-40 in there and checked all the bushings (all look good, btw). I took pictures, but my phone won't let me upload them right now. I'll try later when I get to my computer. Time will tell if that really was just the problem. Appreciate the help guys!
 

jake_zx2

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Edit: let it sit for a little, and it’s creaking again. I think it’s probably the strut mounts, because everything else looks fine. Thanks for the help!
 

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