Rep Power: 263

For starters: I'm using Tein H.Techs with Tokico blues that have been installed for a couple months. Recently I've noticed a creaking sound from the FR strut at low speed while turning. So we pulled the tire to have a check and tighten everything up. Everything was still bolted to spec but we noticed what appears to be some severe wear on my lower control arm.

We pulled the front driver side then and the wear wasn't nearly as bad. I've attached pictures (the passenger side is the first pic) and am looking for any advice. Replacement arms appear to be about $110 from parts.com (#11 I think).

Thoughts?

 
Rep Power: 331

energy suspensions makes replacement/performance bushings. swapping them out is a bitch though. creaking noises while turning tend to be related to the strut though, like the upper mount and bearing. When the bushings in the lower control arm go, you notice more bump steer, but not really much noise.

 
Rep Power: 812

most likely the strut mount bearing. its the only thing i havent replaced and mine has the same problems you described.

 
Rep Power: 0

^ werd i had to replace my front lca once and its nothing like what yuo have desscribed

 
Rep Power: 251

strut bearings probably need grease...if not those compliance bushings will do it

 
Rep Power: 412

That is NOT severe wear on the bushing. If anything, the other bushing is shittier. Why would that bushing make noise while you are turning? It moves up and down, not around.

There are a few causes
1) The spring bearing up top, which everyone else said.
2) Your ball joint(s).

 
Rep Power: 234

hey check the other bushing that is foward more twords the bumper, that is the one known to go. i have replaced well over a hundread of them already... and like robbclark1 said check the ball joints they creek if they are shot and also look into the strut top that could definately cause a noise.

 
Rep Power: 812

i agree with robb on this. my bushings were torn BAD and the car cornered like crap, but there were no noises. it just sucked for handling at higher speeds.

 
Rep Power: 0

Well, if the bushing was torn, as you are turning, it would cause unwanted camber to appear (hence the terrible cornering). If that's possibly the case, then there's also the possibility that the metal from the LCA and the metal that bolts through the torn bushing will cause metal-on-metal contact, and as a result, a clunk sound, and it's probably most apparent as you hit a bump and turn as well, causing the torn bushing to further contract and make a louder clunk sound.

So I don't think you can completely rule that out. It is correct that the bushing is designed to move up and down, but if it's weak and torn, then there's less restriction of movement.

 
Rep Power: 388

Or there could be burrs of metal that are sandwhitched between the top of your tokico mount and your strut tower itself- those can create creeking. Can you also hear this when your in the parking lot and just turn the wheel?

I had a sim issue and pinpointed it to my pillowball mount which needed to be lubed- I covered it in white lithium and it was perfect. Although I must say, before the grease, I did tighten up the three bolts on the strut tower a little more and the creaking became a little quiter.

 
Rep Power: 229

the noise comes from the upper sturt mount.. i had the same problem

 
Rep Power: 263

I'll start with trying to tighten up the top mount further. If that doesn't help I'll go through and answer some of the other questions in detail. Thanks everyone!!

 
Rep Power: 263

OK, you guys are the ****. I had to buy a longer 17mm wrench and a 1/2" drive socket with 6mm hex end from MAC to get it tighter. But I bought the tools and was able to tighten everything up further. The noise is gone now. Thanks again.

And just to confirm: the impression I get is I shouldn't be too worried about the original pictures I posted. Is that correct?

Thanks again all.

 
Rep Power: 812

i need to try tightening it. i used a small hex wrench and regular wrench but it wouldnt budge.

you should still get the ES bushings installed sometime.

 
Rep Power: 242

torn lower lca in the front will cause the steering wheel to jerk while it hits bumps?! If so you guys just solved MY problem lol

 
Rep Power: 812

yeah that and bad shocks. like if youre turning and going over a bump, and it feels like the car is sliding for a second or something.

 
Rep Power: 242

awsome, thanks gear

 
Rep Power: 0

I had the same problem, I first changed the shocks n still had the noise. Changin the front lca's stopped that. Gl wit ur problem

 
Rep Power: 0

sorry to ask but I´m having a clunk noise coming from all 4 struts and my lca are new so I´m starting to think the strut mount bearing could be the culprit

this "clunk" noise sounds like if you hit only once a big bell and then it doesn´t do it anymore.

I already checked everything else and it seems to be fine.

so do I need to change the strut mount bearing?

or do I need to grease them? if so, what kind of grease?

thanks.

 
Rep Power: 285

Greasing the bearings helps with squeaking, you'll need to have the mounts changed. The factory mounts are very weak and are known to break, they've since been changed to a better design, so he replacements should last much longer.

 
Rep Power: 0

hey i just changed my lca and my passengers side went good then when i tried to do my drivers side as i was popping out the ball joint i cracked the bolt for the ball joint. so its saturday night and no parts place is opened so i had an old engine mount bolt laying around same size and threads as the ball joint can i use that and is it safe to drive around like that?? untill monday when i can try to by a ball joint bolt? thanks for any help

 
Rep Power: 285

I wouldn't risk it.

 
Rep Power: 0

that pic just scared the hell out of me but the cotter pin went in fine and it tight or should i just go buy another ball joint tomorrow?? so i can replace the bolt

 
Rep Power: 285

If you can get a new ball joint tomorrow then I'd just wait, it's not worth the risk.