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[kirbster]

Hi folks,

I have a 2003 facelift estate. Recently I have been hearing intermittently a hefty creaking coming from the passenger side front wheelarch. It is definitely steering and not suspension as I cannot replicate the noise by pressing down on that side. It happens when stationary as well as moving...

Any ideas?

Thanks folks!!

[dbug]

Drop links?

[Bionic]

This sounds a bit as if something could be about to fail. Drive with care until you get it found.
Could be the suspension strut top bearings. You would not be able to make them creak by pushing down on them. Same applies for the lower wishbone ball joint and again for the steering drop link arm itself. Any dry ball joint in the steering will also creak.
Anti-Roll bar drop links tend to knock not creak so its probably not them.
Best bet is to grab a mate, get a length of metal rod, I use a long screwdriver, and use it as a probe with one end on the suspect area and the other next to your ear while someone moves the steering wheel for you. That will then isolate the creaking noise. You can also buy a stethoscope from many car shops if you want to be 'posh'.
GudLuk

[kirbster]

Gents thanks, I'll be getting the wheel off tomorrow and the noise is so loud, I suspect I won't need the rod or the stethoscope, but will resort to that if needed.

What's my worst case scenario, both in terms of cost to fix or difficulty?

I also hope that taking the weight off of the wheel doesn't eradicate the problem and therefore make diagnosis a tad tricky.

Either way, I'll find out tomorrow...I may need to post a pic of the offending part so you chaps can tell me what it is

Cheers again,

[dragonlord]

i had this odd creacking  rather loud from the pasanger side  while the weather was really cold as soon a the car warmed up a bit it stoped

last few days since it warmed up it stoped all togeather

i know its not  it not the Steering Idler as they have been changed recently

there a lite dusting of oil on frount shocks but there not quite gone yet

was hope they will last a bit as the new rears put a dent in me wallet

[kirbster]

OK, so I took the wheel off and with the help of a 4 year old sitting in the driver's seat playing firemen I managed to identify the source of the problem.



That grey/silver metal thing (excuse the technical terms) turns as the wheels turn, Im not whether it should.



Also, Im wondering whether the bit in the pic above should be all the way down and this is it's way of working itself off which is adding to the creaking.

and a video of the creaking and what i mean is here..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3vIbwhE5_g

3 questions please..

1. Any idea what that bit is?

2. Does something look broken?

3. Is it safe to drive?

Thanks again, don't know what I'd do without you chaps!

Andrew

Some more pics..

[mathewst]

That looks as a steering idler.
Does the car tramline a lot?

[amba]

Part you are circling is the steering idler...sounds like the internal sleeve has got very dry..might be worth just giving it a good spray with penertrating oil and seeing if that cures the noise...best option though would be to replace with new if any excessive movement.

[kirbster]

Hi, thanks for the quick response, I haven't noticed any adverse steering problems, just the creaking, so a bit of wd40 on that may cure the creak, but does everything look as it should be and should the silvery grey bit turn when the steering turns?

Thanks again!

[amba]

Everything looks perfectly normal with the idler and mount...suspect it has just got very dry with age..give it a good drench with WD40 and see if that cures noise...if no adverse issues with steering no need to start replacing bits.

[kirbster]

Brilliant, i'll give that a try...thankyou!

[Omega 37]

I have exactly the same problem!!!!!
I have bought a new steering control arm but cant get the old one off, it is taper fit. The bushed end comes off but not the eand on the steering rack.
Tunnie said wim heated his to get it off, but i am worried about melting the rubber part!!
Please let me know if this cured the prob.
cheers
paul

[Omega 37]

just looked ay your video. The idler looks loose to me. The bit of metal sticking up above the bush is a heat shield as the exhaust is next to the idler.
The heat shield does not look far enough back(to engine) As the idler moves it is hitting the heat shield.
I know this caus I tightened mine & then could not turn left
you live & learn!!

[kirbster]

Thanks, should the heat shield move when the steering turns, if you look at the video at around 21-28 seconds, you see the heat shield moving as the wheel is turned, is this normal? Definitely sounds like something isn't tight to me.

Ill try the WD40 first, no harm in taking it apart. Although the Haynes manual says that a ball joint removal tool is needed, is this the case?

[Omega 37]

Dont think it should move, thats why I thought the nut was loose. Will check mine tom as I will be putting some heat on it to try & get it off so I can fit the new one.