Creaking Steering and Suspension

C3RIS · Post Sat Feb 13, 2021 11:38 am

Hi,
I've recently noticed a metallic sounding creak when I turn the steering wheel right and going over bumpy roads.

I've read it could be suspension strut top mount bearing, but i had that changed around 5000 miles ago, however didn't change any other components...!!
I also had the coil springs changed around 100 miles ago, plus both ARB have been changed.

Stupidly I haven't changed the front shock absorbers themselves.

I'm loathed to change the top mount bearings again, but is there anything else it could be?
Could it be the absorbers themselves?

Thanks

C3CAR · Post Sat Feb 13, 2021 12:16 pm

C3RIS wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 11:38 am Hi,
I've recently noticed a metallic sounding creak when I turn the steering wheel right and going over bumpy roads.

I've read it could be suspension strut top mount bearing, but i had that changed around 5000 miles ago, however didn't change any other components...!!
I also had the coil springs changed around 100 miles ago, plus both ARB have been changed.

Stupidly I haven't changed the front shock absorbers themselves.

I'm loathed to change the top mount bearings again, but is there anything else it could be?
Could it be the absorbers themselves?

Thanks

Hi

It always pays to rebuild the whole strut at the same time. No point doing it bit by bit because most of the cost is labour if you are paying someone. If you are doing it yourself then you have already removed the parts.

The top mount, dampers and springs come out when you remove the leg, so it makes no sense to only replace on of the parts when they are all wearing at the same rate.

As for what is causing your problem, I don't know, but it will probably be the last part you change, another reason to service the whole leg and replace all the service items whiles it's out.

C3RIS · Post Sat Feb 13, 2021 12:23 pm

Cheers for the reply, yes it all came with experience, as I'm not doing it myself, it was only as each individual bit needed changing I realised I should've asked them to just change everything!!!

Getting fed up with it all

Ozvtr · Post Sat Feb 13, 2021 9:40 pm

There are a lot of things it could be.

If it's a creaking sound when you go over bumps (like speed bumps at low speed?), it could be the lower control arm bushes.

You can try to lubricate them with WD-40 and see if it goes away. It's not a permanent solution but it might tell you what the problem is.

It could be the upper mounts, but they tend to make a clunking sound. Try the same thing.

You can try spraying WD-40 on all the joints of the suspension, BUT ONLY DO IT ONE JOINT AND ONE SIDE AT A TIME!!!!! Spray it on one joint and then drive the car. See if the noise goes away. If not, move on to the next joint...and so on. Don't forget the rubber mounts that hold the springs into the upper and lower cups on the shock.

If it turns out to be a rubber joint and its NOT BROKEN, you can try AT-205.

https://www.amazon.com/ATP-AT-205-Re-Seal-Stops-Bottle/dp/B000NVW1LM

It actually rejuvenates RUBBER components by replacing chemicals lost over time. If the rubber component is intact but has just 'shrunk', this stuff works. If it's broken, it needs to be replaced.

C3RIS · Post Sun Feb 14, 2021 5:03 pm

Ozvtr wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 9:40 pm There are a lot of things it could be.

If it's a creaking sound when you go over bumps (like speed bumps at low speed?), it could be the lower control arm bushes.

You can try to lubricate them with WD-40 and see if it goes away. It's not a permanent solution but it might tell you what the problem is.

It could be the upper mounts, but they tend to make a clunking sound. Try the same thing.

You can try spraying WD-40 on all the joints of the suspension, BUT ONLY DO IT ONE JOINT AND ONE SIDE AT A TIME!!!!! Spray it on one joint and then drive the car. See if the noise goes away. If not, move on to the next joint...and so on. Don't forget the rubber mounts that hold the springs into the upper and lower cups on the shock.

If it turns out to be a rubber joint and its NOT BROKEN, you can try AT-205.

https://www.amazon.com/ATP-AT-205-Re-Seal-Stops-Bottle/dp/B000NVW1LM

It actually rejuvenates RUBBER components by replacing chemicals lost over time. If the rubber component is intact but has just 'shrunk', this stuff works. If it's broken, it needs to be replaced.

Thank you for the insight, it does make the creak over small bumps, but its almost certain everytime I turn right, whether it be stationary or moving.

If it helps, when I had the upper strut mount bearings changed (5k miles ago) when I left the garage I noticed a slight creak then, I took it back and they couldn't find anything.
Fast forward, to a few weeks back, my coil spring snapped so had those changed (I'm so annoyed I didn't get the struts changed then!!)
In changing the springs, the creaking went, so initially put it down to a damaged spring.

However, the aforementioned creak is now back worse than ever!
Lastly, could be debris, melted ice etc, but when I drive off, it always sounds like bits are crumbling under my car lol.

Much appreciated.

Ozvtr · Post Mon Feb 15, 2021 8:47 am

Ran into another post that claimed it was the power steering motor.

They jacked up the entire front end of the car until the wheels were off the ground, turned the steering and it still creaked.

Try it with and without the engine running.

The Citroen C3 Forum

Help for problems with your Citroen C3

and Home of the Citroen C3 Owners Club

Creaking Steering and Suspension

Profile

Popular posts on the C3 forum