Going Crazy!!!

[jlaccord89lxi]

I did a search on this but found very broad answers. I have an extremely annoying and embarrasing creaking noise coming from my front drivers side. It occurs after the car has been rolling for a while and the range is when i turn my wheel a quarter turn either way. At low speeds and driving in traffic it is the loudest. If i turn on the spot without moving it sounds like i am trying to strangle a cat. Even at higher speeds (60-100 km/h) if i turn the wheel left and right slightly, i can hear the creaking. I had it up on ramps the other week and got someone to turn the wheel slightly while i was under the car and it sounds like it is coming from inside the area where the axle meets the hub. I originally thought it was the steering column coming through the floor and meeting the gear box on the rack and possibly rubbing against the body of the car and causing the noise. But it is definitely coming from the axle/hub area. The sound occurs while the wheels are rotating so that is what is throwing me off. However, i know that the wheel bearing on that side is bad and needs to be replaced. Could that be the problem? The only reason i am doubtful of that is because when the wheels are turnig, so is the wheel bearing, so why would it be making that noise then? I have had to replace a wheel bearing before and the only sound it made was that howling noise while the wheel is rolling. It is very loud and i am concerned that when i get the bearing replaced, that the creaking noise will still be there. Any help would be appreciated.

[shepherd79]

yes, it is the wheel bearing.
sometimes they will make howling/whistle sound, but sometimes when there is nothing innside of the bearing they will make creaking noise.
Replace ASAP.

[k-roy]

I agree, its not an easy fix but It can be done if you are mechanicly inclined.

[Vinny]

the wheel nearings have to be pressed in. Just a word of advice since you have to take it all apart anyways, check your lower ball joint and any other suspension while you are down there. I just picked up an extra set of front knuckles, 70 bucks for both of them. I plan on changing out the bearings and lower ball joints on the spare set then just putting them on the car. I figure it will make the job go alot faster and reduce downtime on the car

[markmdz89hatch]

Originally posted by Vinny
the wheel nearings have to be pressed in. Just a word of advice since you have to take it all apart anyways, check your lower ball joint and any other suspension while you are down there. I just picked up an extra set of front knuckles, 70 bucks for both of them. I plan on changing out the bearings and lower ball joints on the spare set then just putting them on the car. I figure it will make the job go alot faster and reduce downtime on the car

That's really the best way to do it IMO. I did the same thing while I was prepping for the LX-i brake conversion up front.

[jlaccord89lxi]

actually, it turned out that the creaky noise was coming from the lower ball joint, so we replaced that and now ... no more noise. I love driving a quiet car. plus, my brakes don't pulsate near as much when i brake on the highway now as they did before when the ball joint was bad. 2 fixes in one