I have a 2000 Civic DX with original suspension. The ride does not FEEL any different, theres just a persistent squeaking up front that matches intensity with the roughness of the road, and it will briefly oscillate after a big bump (the noise will oscillate, not the car)

I looked over the engine mounts and they are firm, nothing else I can find is moving around enough to wiggle and squeak in the engine bay, so I'm wondering if it could the strut is blown. What can I look at on the OEM strut to see if its dead? Fluid?

 

Is there any oil leaking down the shock?

 

Most often you'll see the damper leaking oil, but sometimes it's not so obvious.

 

I checked today, and theres not a leak.

It can be best described as a shimmying sound after going over a bump. I've suspected it could be my exhaust shaking as well. I'm putting it up on a lift tonight to have a better look.

 

An 'oscillating' noise coming from the suspension after hitting a bump is likely to be a result of the unsprung mass of the susupension etc oscillating up and down due to lack of damping affect. The noise itself may or may not be coming from the damper but could be say a bush etc. It's the 'oscillatory' nature of the noise in response to a bump that is the clue that it may well be the damper.

Try finding a rough road somewhere and have a mate drive the car over the bumps while you observe the suspension behaviour from the sidelines. You may well be able to actually see the wheel etc oscillating in response to passing over the bumps.