PreludeMatt

Hey guys, I've got a creaking sound coming from the front end somewhere when I turn the steering wheel. When the road is wet and it's raining it doesn't seem to do it (or it's significantly quieter). It also doesn't seem to do it when the car is jacked up and the wheels are off the ground.
Has anyone had problems liek this before? I'll have time this weekend to investigate, but just wondering if anyone had an idea of where I should start or what might be causing it.. Thanks

bigblue7t6

Hmmm, creaking sound is hard to place, are you sure it isn't the power steering pump whining? Does the sound change with the rpms as you rev the engine at a stand still and turn the wheels? For it not to do it while jacked up or not as bad when the roads are wet sounds like the ailment is load sensitive, just a wild guess though. Good luck

PreludeMatt

yeah it's def not the pump whining or belt slipping.

1funryd

Its your lower ball joints. Listen to which side its coming from and that will be the side to fix.

1grex

LBJs

Hawkze_2.3

Yep, probably lower ball joints. They must support a load and rotate frequently, so they can go bad faster than other stuff...

BergRacing21

I think i have a similiar problem lol i get a loud creaking noise only when i turn it to the left. But if it's cold, or rainy you never hear it. If it's hot it sounds like hell. Guess i found my problem....LBJ's

PreludeMatt

Thanks guys, i'll give that a shot. It was actually in the back of my mind. I'll report back

H22a1Prelude

Thanks for keeping us up to date. I developed the same issue recently after lowering my car this spring. I'm pretty sure it's my drivers side front LBJ, but confirmation would be leet.

~Peace

BergRacing21

haha same here dude, it sounds awful when i turn just bought me some today...will be replacing them wednesday ill keep you guys posted too

BergRacing21

so like i said i'd keep you posted....so i got my whole spindle off to replace the LBJ's and i found out my wheel bearings were shot. So i replaced those while i was at it, and SINCE i had to do all that work i went ahead and bought some ARP extended lug studs too lol But after all that putting all that stuff back together i noticed on my driver side my sway bar end link was completely torn....hell it didn't even have any bushings on the bottom. So i went ahead and bought Polyurethane bushings for it...and now no more noise. So not exactly sure what it was from by my guess is that end link rubbing metal to metal. But am glad i replaced all that stuff it was much needed. I think those wheel bearings were the factory ones still had Nissin printed on it.

Ninefootsix

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge on this particular issue. My 1990 Civic was suddenly creaking so loudly that it was scary and embarrassing. After doing a little research on the forums here, I replaced both the upper and lower ball joints and now it is completely silent when I steer. Thanks!

1funryd

Your welcome.

rashedej8

I get a deep creaking noise when I turn the wheel left only and it comes from the right side but inside the car it sounds like under the floor of ur feet it has all 4 ball joints like 2 months ago there is no wobble and tie rods r changes please help me

holmesnmanny

Cheap brand ball joints sometimes come ungreased and with immediate noise

holmesnmanny

I suppose its possible your tie rod is bad.

holmesnmanny

Just support the car on jackstands. Get under the car and turn the car on and have someone turn the wheel and just listen to narrow down where the creaking is coming from. Odds are it's coming from a ball joint. There is a slight chance it's coming from one of the two lower control arm bushings.