Creaking strut

[ttomtom]

Originally Posted by Racer Boy

How many miles on the car? If it is over 60K, then I recommend replacing the shocks, mounts, and bump rubbers while you have it apart. In fact, I recommend you replace the shocks as well, since they are probably shot by that point.

I'm also guessing that the creaking sound you heard is not the strut mount, it's the control arm that is making that noise.

When these cars get very many miles on them, the suspension parts all wear out rapidly. My car was making all kinds of noises, and with 144K on it, everything was shot. I replaced every part in the suspension except for the rear toe control arms, and now it is quiet and a pleasure to drive.

Only 47k. All four control arms were changed by the previous owners at 38K. Everything is tight no suspension noise at all apart from that creak.
Btw I could eliminate the creak by rotating the centre top strut mount nut a bit. The shaft turned with it. And as it was rotating it made the same creaking noise. That's how this thread started. I suspected that the shaft shouldn't turn in the mount.

The shocks seem good at least if I push the car down it comes back without bouncing. Is there a better way to check them? Once they are apart I'll see how easy it is to push them down and how fast they come back.

How can I check the bearings?

I'll also check the rubber boots and stops and bearing.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by ttomtom

How can I check the bearings?

I'll also check the rubber boots and stops and bearing.

Unfortunately the bearing is at the top of the spring and you cannot see it unless you remove it.

Why don't you first try first tightening the nut by holding the shaft with a (torx or allen) wrench?

Goid luck

PS: look at Sunset Porsche Parts, under the front suspension section you should be able to see the bearing on their exploded view

[ttomtom]

Originally Posted by Gilles

Unfortunately the bearing is at the top of the spring and you cannot see it unless you remove it.

Why don't you first try first tightening the nut by holding the shaft with a (torx or allen) wrench?

It was tight. Still the shaft could turn in the mount.

[Ianbadams]

I had similar creaking on my 986 S and replaced the coffin arm and this solved it.

[ttomtom]

Originally Posted by Ianbadams

I had similar creaking on my 986 S and replaced the coffin arm and this solved it.

Thanks but as I said they've been "recently" (9k miles ago) replaced and I could replicate the noise and even eliminate it by turning the strut shaft a bit. My problem is that I was able to turn the shaft in the mount.

Btw all google searches for creaking noise from front left bring up exactly your problem that's why it took me so long to identify the source of my creak. Interestingly others with worn out strut mounts experience knocking and clunking noises, not creaks. But things have always worked differently for me than for everybody else and the strangest faults come out for me all the time. Things that nobody else ever had. Not just with my cars. I've had enough time to get used to that.