I'm looking to sort this suspension noise I've got since the track day, but I can't quite work out where it's coming from.
It's a sort of CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK noise coming from N/S front mainly when I turn right. I do occasional get it (although less) turning left; and sometimes on the power up a hill (but not really when I'm off the power or coming down).
It's not a rattle or rumble like the sound of bearings loose in a racing (although I suspect the wheel bearings are on the way out because of the movement I can get if I wiggle the wheel).
It's not a clicking noise like a CV joint, and the boots all seem to be intact (and feel like there's grease under them).
I've had the wheel off and can't see anything obvious; the track rod end is looking a little worn, but otherwise it's fine. - There's no real movement if I grab the top and bottom of the wheel and wiggle, but there's a bit (and I can hear a creak) when I grab the sides and wiggle.
The bushes look OK to me; none of them are more than a couple of years old, and although it's not especially pretty they all look to be in the right place and secure.
I can't work-out if the sound it coming from the strut/spring assembly, or the steering rack. - If I sit on the fender and bounce there's no noise, but maybe it's the twisting motion when steering rather than an up-down motion that does it.
I'm confident that the wheel isn't about to fall off, but that doesn't mean I'm not concerned about the noise.
So who has tips/advice/experience that can point me in the right direction?
Here are some ideas I had, but I don't know if they make any sense or not:
It's a sort of CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK noise coming from N/S front mainly when I turn right. I do occasional get it (although less) turning left; and sometimes on the power up a hill (but not really when I'm off the power or coming down).
It's not a rattle or rumble like the sound of bearings loose in a racing (although I suspect the wheel bearings are on the way out because of the movement I can get if I wiggle the wheel).
It's not a clicking noise like a CV joint, and the boots all seem to be intact (and feel like there's grease under them).
I've had the wheel off and can't see anything obvious; the track rod end is looking a little worn, but otherwise it's fine. - There's no real movement if I grab the top and bottom of the wheel and wiggle, but there's a bit (and I can hear a creak) when I grab the sides and wiggle.
The bushes look OK to me; none of them are more than a couple of years old, and although it's not especially pretty they all look to be in the right place and secure.
I can't work-out if the sound it coming from the strut/spring assembly, or the steering rack. - If I sit on the fender and bounce there's no noise, but maybe it's the twisting motion when steering rather than an up-down motion that does it.
I'm confident that the wheel isn't about to fall off, but that doesn't mean I'm not concerned about the noise.
So who has tips/advice/experience that can point me in the right direction?
Here are some ideas I had, but I don't know if they make any sense or not:
- The "pillow ball" on the top of the strut is shagged, and the noise is metal on metal because there's no rubber there any more. - It only makes a noise when you load the strut then put steering input in which twists the strut with the hub.
I have grabbed hold of the spring and tried to give that a wiggle; I get nothing (so I'm reasonably confident that it hasn't snapped). - At least one of the bushes on the steering rack has worn, and this is the noise of the rack shifting slightly in the mounting. - Although it does sound like the noise might be coming from the rack, I haven't noticed any less feedback or vagueness than usual (which I would have thought would indicate a loose rack).
I also would have though it would make noise all the time (or when steering in either direction). - The bottom ball joint in the hub is shot, and so the whole strut is trying to twist instead of pivoting on that point.
