My wife's 2007 S60 has started making a creaking sound. It occurs with even small amounts of wheel input. It's like a sticking, slightly dry creaking sound. I haven't been able to isolate the location. I haven't seen any sign of leaks.

Tonight I'll check the fluid level and try to get her to turn the wheel while I listen more closely.

Any thoughts? I've seen the plastic bushing/bearing mentioned a number of times. I will check it, but the sound seems to come from the other wide of the firewall and seems more in time with the motion of the steering rack than the rotation of the steering wheel shaft.

There is no sound when you aren't actively rotating the steering wheel.

 

Im new to volvos but on other cars I had its always been a balljoint. Raise the frontend and hold the tire 9 and 3. Wiggle it and look for"play" then try 12 and 6 position and do the same thing. If there is play have someone else wiggle it and you stick your face down there to try and locate the play.