Hello all! I've got a 1993 850glt that has a very annoying creaking sound in the front-end when I make a turn. For instance, when I back into a parking spot at work. Actually, if I'm sitting in the driveway in park and turn the wheel it will creak. Thoughts?

I've replaced the following:

1. Entire strut tower sans springs (strut, spring seat, strut mount) within the past few months
2. Sway bar link ends at same time as #1
3. Tie rod ends last fall
4. Sway bar bushings last fall

My mechanic can't find anything loose or in need of replacement.

Oh, maybe I should mention that the car won't hold an alignment. I got it aligned after replacing the struts, but now is out of whack again (pulls right).

 

Maybe your steering rack is on it's way out.

 

Nuts. That's what I was afraid of... Can I get a rebuilt rack for the '93? Most places list their racks for the '94-'97 only...

 

I'm sure it's possible. I just depends on how much time you want to spend looking for one. It may not be the steering rack, that's just my opinion.

 

Eventhough I replaced them last spring/summer, could these symptoms indicate a bad ball joint? There's no clunking or anything like that...

 

The only way to know for sure would be to inspect it.

 

Just got a call from the mechanic that's doing the alignment. Before he started on the car, I told him what exactly the problem was, the symptoms and what my theory is. He checked everything out and said that the suspension and rack are all very tight, but he found that the spring is very slightly moving on the seat when the wheel is turned. He said it looks perfectly fine (it's all new, so it should be), but since the seat was in fact new, it's just rubbing. This would also answer why it doesn't make the noise when it's colder out and if it's not under load. He is going to grease the top of the spring for me and align the car. He didn't have an answer why it won't hold an alignment other than maybe the shops that I've had it done at before (an indy I wasn't too familiar with & Firestone) didn't do it correclty.

So, in the end, hopefully there isn't anything really wrong with the suspension that a shot of grease won't cure. We'll find out when I drive it!

 

Whoo hoo!! No noise anymore! I guess it was just the spring rubbing against the seat and greasing it solved the problem! \

I'm now a VERY happy camper!

 

Glad to hear everything worked out.