Creaking noice

[Robert986]

My Box developed a creaking/cracking noice in the driver side front.

If I go forward and brake firm, it creaks once, quite loud. If I continue forward, no more noice when braking. Then, if I put it in reverse, brake firm, the exact same sound, once.. So, it's like something is shifting position, goes back vs forward.

I put some.. ok here it comes... Some nail polish (hey, it's a girl-car..) over certain suspects to see if it cracks, but still no luck. Reassembled the brakes, new caliper bolts, proper tourque. Any ideas? It,s pretty loud and is heard from outside, I believe I can actually feel it in the steering wheel.

[Racer Boy]

It's probably the ball joint, which means replacing the lower control arms.

[Robert986]

Originally Posted by Racer Boy

It's probably the ball joint, which means replacing the lower control arms.

The LCA was replaced this spring with oem GT3-arms, so it should really not be defective so soon. I hope..

[Racer Boy]

Have you checked your front brakes? Loose caliper bolts? Pad mounting hardware allowing the pads to clunk around in the caliper? You'd think that a creaking noise wouldn't be brakes, it would be a clunk, but it's easy to check.

[Robert986]

Originally Posted by Racer Boy

Have you checked your front brakes? Loose caliper bolts? Pad mounting hardware allowing the pads to clunk around in the caliper? You'd think that a creaking noise wouldn't be brakes, it would be a clunk, but it's easy to check.

The pads where changed one month ago. Did take the brakes apart yesterday, didn´t notice anything strange, bought new caliper bolts and torqued those to spec.

Wishbone is not moving in relation to LCA-casterpuck (according to the nail polish), the wishbone is old, so the balljoint end might be a suspect.

When the wheels are braking, the wishbone takes the load from the LCA, but I guess the steering rods/steering rack takes the load from the wheels (other ways they would turn) so maybe this is also something to look into.

[Robert986]

Racer Boy was spot on, thanks!!!

When I lubed the pads (rear and sides) with copper paste the sound went away! So obviously the pads did move a mm or so. Happy times!

[Racer Boy]

Glad you found the problem, and it was an easy and cheap fix!