terrible front end noise. comes and goes

[cvharps11]

So I've been getting a really weird noise and slight vibration from the drivers side suspension area. When I first hear it I honestly thought my lugs were loose and my wheel was wobbling. That's the only thing I would think could sound similar. Doesn't matter how fast I'm going and it sometimes doesn't do it at all for 30 mins of driving. Other tines it will do it right when I get in the car. It's an odd creaking sounds. Also my brake light came on lately could that be related. Thanks for the help guys just not sure what to check out first

[Speed4Avant]

So I've been getting a really weird noise and slight vibration from the drivers side suspension area. When I first hear it I honestly thought my lugs were loose and my wheel was wobbling. That's the only thing I would think could sound similar. Doesn't matter how fast I'm going and it sometimes doesn't do it at all for 30 mins of driving. Other tines it will do it right when I get in the car. It's an odd creaking sounds. Also my brake light came on lately could that be related. Thanks for the help guys just not sure what to check out first

I had creaking due to bad front upper control arm bushings being bad, could be wheel bearings, or something else.

[jpurre]

Yeah, check control arms/bushings. Wheel bearing would make noise pretty constantly and at the same speed always, more of a "whirring" noise. Make sure all your brake components are tight as well. Had a caliper bolt come loose and fly off at 70mph once.. that was not a fun evening.

[cvharps11]

Yeah, check control arms/bushings. Wheel bearing would make noise pretty constantly and at the same speed always, more of a "whirring" noise. Make sure all your brake components are tight as well. Had a caliper bolt come loose and fly off at 70mph once.. that was not a fun evening.

The entire caliper came off? Damn. And yea I know it's not a bearing. It's way too intermittent for that

[jpurre]

The entire caliper came off? Damn. And yea I know it's not a bearing. It's way too intermittent for that

Luckily, it did not fall off. Front driver side caliper came loose and shaved my stock AVUS wheel a little, and did I mention braking was substantially impaired :) e-brake time! All's well that ends well. Towed it home and got a replacement bolt and used LOCKTITE.

[james 408]

bearings don't always go out the same way and make noise the same way. One of mine was dead silent, but i pulled it apart cause the car was wandering down the freeway (felt like wind) and it turns out the bearing had begun to weld itself, the hub, the axle, and the axle nut into 1 piece (miata).

tie rod ends, bearings, brakes are the most common. control arms, differentials, upper shock mounts loose, etc. are all possible.

follow the same instructions I give every similar post twice a week:

1) jack the car up
2) shake the wheel/tire while checking for excess play in joints, bushings, ends, etc (put your hand on those parts)
3) replace the part(s) that are worn.

most people don't realize that wheel bearings, rod ends, and bushings are regular maintenance items, and you don't need a failure to replace them.

[ALE81]

Check your headlight leveling sensor, or rather the tie rod that attaches it to the control arm. Mine was seized and made a horrible creaking noise. It looks like a tiny sway bar end link on drivers side, lower-front control arm.

[s4avant87]

I had the same exact problem you described. My brake warning light was also intermittent. Turned out to be a blown strut from my less than a year old coilovers.

[cvharps11]

I had the same exact problem you described. My brake warning light was also intermittent. Turned out to be a blown strut from my less than a year old coilovers.

I have noticed that the front left doesn't seem to slow down as quickly as the rest of the car after hitting s bump. As far as bouncing. damn why does it come and go so intermittently?

[s4avant87]

I have noticed that the front left doesn't seem to slow down as quickly as the rest of the car after hitting s bump. As far as bouncing. damn why does it come and go so intermittently?

Depends on how you define intermittently. Does it happen here and there every time you drive the car or does it happen once or twice a week?

I would suggest you put it up on a lift if you have the oppurtunity and drive the car in whatever gear produces the most noise. Hopefully you can recreate the sound and get a better idea.

[cvharps11]

I mean sometimes it won't happen for a week and sometimes it will happen right when I get in the car. It doesn't matter which gear I'm in or if I'm in neutral. I had it jacked up yesterday and everything appeared to be fine

[s4avant87]

I mean sometimes it won't happen for a week and sometimes it will happen right when I get in the car. It doesn't matter which gear I'm in or if I'm in neutral. I had it jacked up yesterday and everything appeared to be fine

Does it happen as soon as you get into the car without is starting?

[zillarob]

I have seen ones that seemed to have the ball crimped in too tight. Wasnt long after install they started making pirate ship noises. Still nice and tight, just creaking.
You might try adding some good grease through the boot with one of those hypodermic needle contraptions.

Iirc, a while back on here somebodies subframe got goofy. Was something with the way the layers were pressed together and needed a weld to keep them from rubbing when flexing or something like that.

[cvharps11]

I mean sometimes it won't happen for a week and sometimes it will happen right when I get in the car. It doesn't matter which gear I'm in or if I'm in neutral. I had it jacked up yesterday and everything appeared to be fine

No it only happens when the car is on and moving. but it doesnt matter how fast. Past 2 days of driving it hasn't made a sound. Knock on wood.

[cvharps11]

I got a video where the noise is audible. I can't figure out how to post it on this thread from my phone though. HTC one

[s4avant87]

Did you get the car on a lift yet? Or at least put it on some jacks to inspect? We can only make so many guesses and even then, they're only guesses.

I got a video where the noise is audible. I can't figure out how to post it on this thread from my phone though. HTC one

[james 408]

a cell phone vid from inside the car is going to be worthless anyways, unless you are isolating the noise for us to a specific control... like wiggling your steering wheel while parked, or turning a corner at neutral throttle, or braking in a straight line with the car in neutral, or on and off throttle in a straight line...

and can't say if the brake light is linked without first figuring out what is making the noise =P probably not related though.

[rsxsty1e]

it's possible you had a pebble in between your rotor and pad. there's been a lot of that in the northeast this winter with all the gravel on the roads from salters. that makes more of a metal on metal screeching sound than a creaking sound, but i mention this since you said the sound has disappeared in the past 2 days. maybe the pebble fell out. not sure that something like that would trigger the brake light though.

[cvharps11]

I've had the car up and everything appears to be in great shape. Minimal wear on bushings and the only reason I made the video was because after receding it a dozen times I finally got a vid that you can hear it pretty well. Just thought it would help. And the light was do to a small break in the sense wire