On May 12, I started my front end bushing install/tie rod install. What a pain living in the North East and dealing with corrosion (and no access to air tools)... Anyway... I put the new tie rods in, and the following Powerflex bushings in: Front Control Arm Front Sway Bar Steering Rack Lower Engine Mount Now, when I turn the wheel to the left or to the right, there's creaking sound. Not when taking a turn down a road, but making a turn at a cross road, or into a driveway/parking spot, or while the car is still. It does not make a noise when the car is off the ground. It sounds like it is coming from the passenger side. This side gave me problems way back when I was installing my suspension. The camber plate was slightly bent in one corner, and the strut body resisted entering the steering knuckle. I had to tap at the knuckle with a rubber mallet to get the shock body to slide in. I always had parking lot speed noises when steering (bad bushings, spring noises?). Does this sound like a bad camber plate bushing, or could my springs be binding up?
I might have skimped on the control arm bushings, but everything was lubed up pretty extensively. Are those stressed when the car is still and the wheels are being turned? It's otherwise silent while driving and not turning the wheel far. No noise over bumps. I guess I'll disconnect the sway bar links to rule it out there. I'm also going to try to upload videos of the noise.
Here are the two youtube videos I put up: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jir0tV0fWmE]Sound heard from outside the car when turning 2006 Mini Cooper S - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuqNHXRXww4]Noise when turning wheel. What could this be? Mini Cooper S 2006 - YouTube[/ame] Any help is appreciated!
That's the bushings they need lube as Dave O said, either that or someone installed one of those creaky doors for a 1960's horror film! The poly mounts really need to be greased up or they make that sound.
Thanks. I'll have to check and see if the local dealers have more of those one time use bolts in stock.
That would be cool on Halloween otherwise it would drive me nuts. :crazy: Lube, lube, & lube some more. ostcount
It must be the ones for the steering rack that are squeaking, not the control arm. I don't think there would be enough movement at the control arm to make that much noise from just turning the wheel.
The noise seems to have gone away on it's own after I adjusted the ride height. I'm not sure if it was the sway bar having pre-load from the stock length end-links, or if it had something to do with the warmer weather over the weekend. Anyway, thanks for the advice!