Lowered my car with Eibach Prokit (1.2" drop) a couple weeks ago on my 2007 volvo S40 and I started hearing hear creaking/knocking noise from the front end when turning wheel at very slow speed (i.e. pulling or backing out of driveway/parking spot). More noticiable if a slight incline. Front Struts and Strut Mounts were replaced 25,000 miles ago with Volvo strut mount bearing and Monroe OE struts. Both lower control arms were replaced 1-1/2 years ago as well as right Drive Axle. Also, I just replaced the sway bar end links last night because rubber covers at the endlinks were torn. What could be the causing the noise?
The mechanic who installed them looked at it a few times and said everything looks fine. He said it may just be the coil spring seating in the strut assembly. I looked and the bottom of the spring is flush against the strut mount seat. Any thoughts? Anyone else experiencing the same issue?

gatorlou1993

 

Getting a second opinion from a different mechanic is a good idea. I had a the same sounds coming from my front end and the mechanic told me it was the strut mount but actually it ended up being the sway bar bushing. He replaced it twice and both times it failed within a few days. I had a different mechanic take a look at it from the same shop and he fixed it that day and it's been good for over a year now.

 

For months I heard excruciating noises from the front end when making left turns, followed by humming noises for a minute or two afterwards. The Volvo mechanics couldn't figure out what it was. I was starting to think it was something expensive, like a transaxle or something like that.

I noticed last month I was low on steering pump fluid. I topped it up...no more noises. Cheers and good luck!