Kozy

A few months ago, I personally replaced the bushings in the strut/caster bars in my '97. I had a machine shop press the old ones out and the OEM ones in, but the rest of the work I did myself. Replacing these eliminated my clunk, but the car has now developed a "creaking" sound whenever the front end of the car moves up and down. I can make this noise happen just by putting my weight on the front of the car and bouncing it up and down.

Since this creaking noise didn't start until AFTER I replaced the strut bushings, I am wondering if I did something incorrectly in the reinstall? Or could it just be that the control arm bushings crapped out right after I did this work?

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

did you use OEM bushings or aftermarket???
that will help... us to answer

Kozy

OEM bushings. Made sure not to tighten the bolts until the car was back on the ground too. I didn't use any grease when I reinstalled the bars though, and I read the instructions for the Daizen kit install that said to use LOADS of grease.

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

the bushings go in with the tab down (or up, they work the same)
did you do that also?
if so, there is only 2 possible items, one is the sway bar LINKS and the other is the sway bar bushings.

Kozy

The bushings were indeed installed with the tabs facing up and down.

I had a mechanic look at the car and he told me the control arm bushings were the culprit but I am not giving his opinion any consideration because he didn't come across as confident in his diagnosis. I'm doing oil changes this weekend, so I'll have to check out the sway bar stuff for visible problems.

LsG86

My 97 WAS making this creaking noise as well, I actually thought it was the Beck Arnley LBJs causing this noise but it wasn't.

For me the ONLY time my car makes this creaking noise is when I goto the car wash and I use the high water pressure gun and spay the liner behind all four wheels for whatever reason my car will make that creaking noise up front when going over bumps and dips. Very annoying to say the least.

The creaking might last for a day or until everything is completely dry. I am assuming when the whole front suspension is wet, something is causing that creaking noise.
I am thinking it may be my front upper control arms or sway bar bushes, they are the originals from factory.