Steering creaks like an old rope - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

squireiii · 05-08-2012, 08:49 AM

or a wound up rubberband. 99 with 115,000. Happens at slow speed when pulling into a parking spot, or into driveway, etc. I can feel it in the steering wheel as well. Sound comes from the front of the car. I don't know if any suspension/bushings have ever been replaced. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Ghostrider 310 · 05-08-2012, 08:57 AM

Check the steering linkage components, when they start to go a lot of times it's more noticeable with the car motionless. Also, if you are low on PS fluid it will cause a squeal not unlike when you take the wheel too far to one extreme. Lastly not a bad idea to check the drive belt and pump.

SoK · 05-08-2012, 10:39 AM

I notice a creak kind of like this with mine, but no effect on the steering that i've noticed, just a sound when i back out of the driveway in the morning and turn the wheel without moving much.

nicecar · 05-08-2012, 05:38 PM

had the same problem ended being front berrings

landrovered · 05-08-2012, 05:58 PM

Check the fluid level in power steering reservoir, I had to overfill mine to get the noise to go away and it has for the last three years.

squireiii · 05-09-2012, 05:41 AM

I'm going to check the fluid today, thanks Landrovered. Nicecar, what bearings did you replace?

healthservices · 05-09-2012, 08:13 AM

There are several places where the noise can be from. Easiest and most common is the power steering fluid. Please note there is a special fluid needed.

Another is the top mount bearing on top of your strut, if you hear it to one side or the other. The lower ball joint makes noise too.

If it is a clicking noise then it may be the sway bar end links

landrovered · 05-09-2012, 10:50 AM

Use only Pentosin power steering fluid from a Porsche, Mercedes or VW dealer.

squireiii · 05-10-2012, 12:11 PM

Update. The fluid was low. Didn't even show on the dipstick. Found Pentosin fluid at VW dealer and filled it to proper level (plus a little by accident). Quiet and smooth now. Thanks to all who replied!

jakobv84 · 05-10-2012, 01:36 PM

Watch out if your power steering fluid levels go down again (leaking) and you may need to either have it fixed (which potentially isn't cheap) or just keep filling it up.

Ghostrider 310 · 05-10-2012, 01:38 PM

NAPA has pentosin now saw it yesterday.

squireiii · 05-11-2012, 04:01 AM

I plan to check it again this weekend not only for leaks, but to see if it went down due to being distributed into the system, pump, lines, etc. And now have it on my radar for regular checking. NAPA here did not have the fluid, but I have seen several posts that say they carry it.

healthservices · 05-11-2012, 07:43 AM

of all the places Kragen/OReilly has it now, not at all stores but it can be ordered.

BMP37 · 05-15-2012, 07:33 AM

I have the same thing in my 2000 with 11k miles, I doubt it's anything to worry about, cars get old and start to do things like that

ProjectM96 · 05-15-2012, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squireiii

or a wound up rubberband. 99 with 115,000. Happens at slow speed when pulling into a parking spot, or into driveway, etc. I can feel it in the steering wheel as well. Sound comes from the front of the car. I don't know if any suspension/bushings have ever been replaced. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Does your car sound like this?
Control Arm Bushing Creaking - YouTube

That is the noise my car makes over bumps, when I steer, when i accelerate or slow down. It turned out to be the lower control arm bushing. In the video, I was recording with the phone and replicating the noise by pushing the front fender down repeatadly and rocking the car.

I am getting it fixed today for $180 with alignment for labor + $165 for parts(aftermarket)

Porsche charges about $1600 parts and labor combined for both front lower control arms.
Mechanics that only buy OEM parts would charge $1000-1200 combined parts and labor.