I have been hearing this distinct creaking noise occur more & more. Its worse in the driver side front tire, but it happens in both. I can hear it when im driving slow & hit bumps. It also occurs when the car is parked and I push down on the side of the car.

I cannot tell if this is the shock absorber, balljoint, wheelbearing or springs. Does anyone have a clue as to what this is?

 

If it happens when you are turning left or right... it could be related to your drive axles.
But... if the noise happens when you add pressure (weight).. it could be related to your shocks i think.
Take a look under the car, and inspect the suspension, look for excessive grease on joint or such, these may need to be replaced.

 

i considered my shocks to be the problem, but I highly doubt it. I am thinking more of the balljoints, or wheel bearings. Can someone give me more insight to the symptoms of a bad balljoint?

 

The problem is the wheel bearing. If you hear a ticking sound then it's the axles. If you change the wheel bearing I would just change both of them for safe meaure.

 

try greasing the sway bar bushings

creaking/squeaking front suspension when going over bumps is commonly the sway bar bushings. See the FAQ

-axles are going to be more of a popping when turning.
-wheel bearing are going to hum when moving and the hum will get louder the faster you go.
-for the ball joints, lift and support the front of the car and try the 12 and 6 test and the 9 and 3 test. Basically grabbing the tire 180* apart and trying to wiggle the tire, if there is play in the ball joints or tie rod joint then you should feel it while doing those tests.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TouringAccord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

-wheel bearing are going to hum when moving and the hum will get louder the faster you go.</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is something I have to fix this week on my car. ; ( just started

How much is the labor for that job. I know you need a press so I won't be able to do it myself. I'm going to buy the parts online and then ask the mechanic how much it'll cost for parts and labor so I can screw him over when I tell him I already bought the part! Ha!...

 

if you have a second car or someone to take you around, just remove the hub/bearing from the knuckle and take that with the new bearing to a machine shop and have them do it. Then just reassemble it all. And if you can't get the hub/bearing out of the knuckle just remove the knuckle and have them get it apart. I paid $25 for each fronts to be disassembled and reassembled with new parts (brembo rotors and OEM bearings) which I supplied.

 

I don't know any machine shop in my area. I'll take it to my mechanic hopefully he has a press. I have something to do this weekend!! Yes!!

I still don't know if I should attempt to change the water pump and timing belt. I read the FAQ have all the tools except for Torc Wrench which I can borrow from a friend. Touring have you done this yourself?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TouringAccord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">try greasing the sway bar bushings

creaking/squeaking front suspension when going over bumps is commonly the sway bar bushings. See the FAQ

-axles are going to be more of a popping wand the hum will get louder the faster you go.hen turning.
-wheel bearing are going to hum when moving
-for the ball joints, lift and support the front of the car and try the 12 and 6 test and the 9 and 3 test. Basically grabbing the tire 180* apart and trying to wiggle the tire, if there is play in the ball joints or tie rod joint then you should feel it while doing those tests.</TD></TR></TABLE>

it doesnt hum when i go. it is simply CREAKING when the car is pushed down either by hand force or a bump. I am aware of what a bad axle does, it is not that. Im guessing its the ball joints.

So with the 180* trick, is the tire suppose to tilt in a way? & with a bad balljoint, the tilting of the tire will cause it to making the creaking noise, correct?

Are balljoint difficult to replace?

 

i know the sound. I take it it happens when turning the steering wheel even at a dead stop doesnt it? I would recommend new shocks.

If you check the ball joints, lift with a jack under the lower controll arm, get the wheel a couple inches off the ground and place one hand at the top and one at the bottom and rock back n forth, any play? If so have some one else rock it and watch the upper and the lower if either have play then replace it, or both. while you have the car up rock it left and right, if there is any play you have a tierod bad.

I would advise checking all that stuff before you replace parts. I know i hate wasting my time. You should also look at the sway bar end link bushings if they are dryrotting you should replace them as well. If you find no problems replace the shocks.

good luck

 

IT DOES NOT OCCUR WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL.
I'm going to try lifting the car & messing with the wheels.

 

*note* i dont have a front sway bar in my car.

**bumpplease

 

You don't have a front sway bar in your car? Anyway I was going to say that my car was making the same noise, only when I hit a bump or pushed the car down, I greased the sway bar and the noise went away. Look at your balljoints, if the boots are cracked and grease is coming out, or there is no grease in them, then it could be that.

Here is something you can do. Get some silicone spray. Spray down whatever you think might be making the noise. Get in the car and drive around, if the noise goes away, or it's a lot less, then it might be what you sprayed, if not move on to the next part. Try spraying into balljoints if your boots are cracked open, tie rod ends, bushings, whatever, this is one way to do it. I doubt it would be bearings if it makes that noise when you push down on the car.

 

98 Accord Coupe? Is that the problem car. From what I've seen, my 6th gen has a front sway bar. And I did have this squeeking over bumps. And whenever I drive around. It did come from the swaybar. Do the swaybar bushing first. Doesn't cost any money. I am 80% sure that'll fix your problem.

Also don't confuse Swaybar with strut bar. Some people get confused by that.

 

i believe what your talking about is lifting the car and attempting to tilt the tire either way.....up and down tests the bears and side to side tests the tie rods if im not mistaken (correct me if i am please)....also when you have it up take a look at the control arm balljoint...i had one go bad before,....also bought one that had a defective bushing....so its a process of elimination thing

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gqstatus05 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I still don't know if I should attempt to change the water pump and timing belt. I read the FAQ have all the tools except for Torc Wrench which I can borrow from a friend. Touring have you done this yourself?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I sent you a PM

 

Spray some WD-40 or grease all of your bushings in the front end, 2 in each of the lower control arms, 2 sway bar and your sway bar end links and lastly the 2x front & rear radius rod bushings. If your car does not have a sway bar I would suggest that you put it back on. It will handle much better Just a note Honda refers to the sway bar and it's components as a stabilizer.

As for checking for bad front end parts it goes something like this
Push & Pull the Tire @ 12 & 6, Movement = Upper & lower ball joints
Push & Pull the Tire @ 3 & 9, Movement = Tie Rod ends
Spin the Tire, Grinding noise = Bearing or rusty brakes