wesleychan18

Hi all,

This may sound like a very simple question requiring a very simple answer, but I wanted to know what your opinion would be.

So in the morning, I do a cold start of the car and idle for 30 secs and start to go out. When I'm backing out, I can hear a squeaking/scraping sound from the front left side as I turn the steering wheel. Also, when I get off the end of my driveway or approach any bumpy surfaces, the front left side also squeaks.

This is obviously a suspension problem, but what would it be exactly? And what would I need to fix and/or replace?

Thanks in advance.

lilpaintballer02

I have the same problem too on the passanger side as well.

Any help would be appreciated!!!

Former User

Check whether the power steering belt is loose or slipping and whether the power steering fluid is low.

Also check the other two drive belts.

Bender C/F

ok i think i know EXACTLY what your problem is.
Next time you start your car, turn the steering wheel back and forth. If it's like a metal-on-metal squeek you are hearing, even when you arent moving, thats a lower ball joint. I guarantee it. if you dont replace it, and the squeeking stops, the ball joint will collapse and your car will be immoble. Not to mention if you have rims, you will have a nice deep gouge in them. This happened to me. Now i know that steering squeek anywhere.

By the way, get the parts (replace both sides to be safe) on eBay. (they are way cheap that way).

wesleychan18

Do you know how I can check physically? You are right with the symptoms, but I would still like to check anyways.

System Lord

iTrader: (1)

I have an em2 and had a noise for a while and finally checked it and it was actually the lower control arm bushings, they were gone. Dry ball joints make noise you can check the ball joints by jacking up the front end and and moving the tire physically up and down if its tight your ball joints are good.

Bender C/F

yes, do that. And you can visually inspect them too, they are what connect the wheel assembly to the car. Here's a pic...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67...t/IMG_5839.jpg

wesleychan18

Thanks for the help, looks that the ball joints are the problem. Will update once those get replaced.

wesleychan18

A friend who is a mechanic came over to take a look at our car. He thinks it's actually a loose bearing (I don't know what that means) instead of the ball joint problem. Does that make sense?

Bender C/F

Ball joints are in a way kind of a bearing. I would just do the ball joints. Lower ones. Get them off eBay from a seller called "saleshut". They are cheap and I have used his parts many many times. 99.9% chance this will solve all your problems.

wesleychan18

Forgot about this thread, but it turned out that the tie rod end on the driver's side was completely dead; so, that was replaced along with the passenger side. Also, both lower ball joints were replaced just in case. The car is running very well now; thanks for all your suggestions!