Creaking Sound Frontend - Diagnosing

[Posty]

Hi all,

I recently contracted a case of frontend noise on my 1999 4WD. Going crazy trying to diagnose it and hoping for some input.

The noise started after I replaced LBJs & LCA bushings (whiteline) and got an alignment. I took it back to the alignment shop to get checked and the tech said the sound is coming from my driver's front strut, not to worry.

In the clips it only makes a single click, when cornering/bumps there are multiple of those clicks in sequence, like a groaning noise.

https://streamable.com/c46e35

https://streamable.com/e/c46e35?

https://streamable.com/mzj5dy

https://streamable.com/e/mzj5dy?

Things I've checked...
- Steering rack bushings (replaced in Jan)
- Sway bar bushings (sway bar is removed)
- LCA bushings (cam bolts are torqued & I applied lube to all surfaces)

When I drop the frontend to replicate the sound it vibrates stronger in the shock body than the LCA so I'm pretty confident this is not bushing squeak. Both struts only have like 40k on them and seem fine otherwise.

Is this just coincidentally my shock going bad immediately after an unrelated service? Or is there something else I can check?

Thanks for reading :biggrin1:

 

[Hoglegs3006]

Hi all,

I recently contracted a case of frontend noise on my 1999 4WD. Going crazy trying to diagnose it and hoping for some input.

The noise started after I replaced LBJs & LCA bushings (whiteline) and got an alignment. I took it back to the alignment shop to get checked and the tech said the sound is coming from my driver's front strut, not to worry.

In the clips it only makes a single click, when cornering/bumps there are multiple of those clicks in sequence, like a groaning noise.

https://streamable.com/c46e35

https://streamable.com/e/c46e35?

https://streamable.com/mzj5dy

https://streamable.com/e/mzj5dy?

Things I've checked...
- Steering rack bushings (replaced in Jan)
- Sway bar bushings (sway bar is removed)
- LCA bushings (cam bolts are torqued & I applied lube to all surfaces)

When I drop the frontend to replicate the sound it vibrates stronger in the shock body than the LCA so I'm pretty confident this is not bushing squeak. Both struts only have like 40k on them and seem fine otherwise.

Is this just coincidentally my shock going bad immediately after an unrelated service? Or is there something else I can check?

Thanks for reading :biggrin1:

I tried to watch your video and it says it's no longer available. Anywho I had a similar issue, I installed OME lift in the front and rear, no issues no creaking noise. I went to have a alignment done and when I left the shop it had a pretty nasty creaking noise coming from the front driver side that it did not have before the alignment. Turns out my outer tie rod was bad. I replaced the inner and outer tie rods along with steering rack bushing and that creaking noise went away.

Maybe it's your tie rods...?

 

[Hoglegs3006]

Hi all,

I recently contracted a case of frontend noise on my 1999 4WD. Going crazy trying to diagnose it and hoping for some input.

The noise started after I replaced LBJs & LCA bushings (whiteline) and got an alignment. I took it back to the alignment shop to get checked and the tech said the sound is coming from my driver's front strut, not to worry.

In the clips it only makes a single click, when cornering/bumps there are multiple of those clicks in sequence, like a groaning noise.

https://streamable.com/c46e35

https://streamable.com/e/c46e35?

https://streamable.com/mzj5dy

https://streamable.com/e/mzj5dy?

Things I've checked...
- Steering rack bushings (replaced in Jan)
- Sway bar bushings (sway bar is removed)
- LCA bushings (cam bolts are torqued & I applied lube to all surfaces)

When I drop the frontend to replicate the sound it vibrates stronger in the shock body than the LCA so I'm pretty confident this is not bushing squeak. Both struts only have like 40k on them and seem fine otherwise.

Is this just coincidentally my shock going bad immediately after an unrelated service? Or is there something else I can check?

Thanks for reading :biggrin1:

My rig is a 1999 Limited 4WD 280k miles

 

[Buckaroo]

Sorting out suspension noise can be difficult. First step is to get under it and push/pull components to see if anything is moving. On your age vehicle, it could easily be a worn bushing which would not move much. I have a Steelman Chassis Ear2 (wired version) that I hook up to trace down the source of noises (suspension, bearing, exhaust, etc.) and it has worked well. The wireless version is a lot more expensive and I do not recommend it.

 

[Posty]

Sorting out suspension noise can be difficult. First step is to get under it and push/pull components to see if anything is moving. On your age vehicle, it could easily be a worn bushing which would not move much. I have a Steelman Chassis Ear2 (wired version) that I hook up to trace down the source of noises (suspension, bearing, exhaust, etc.) and it has worked well. The wireless version is a lot more expensive and I do not recommend it.

Thanks for this, sorry I'm just seeing it. I think I tracked it down to the shock body so I'm replacing both fronts in the next couple weeks & will report back.

 

[Posty]

New shocks, bushings, top hats solved the noise!