Roadrunner_GTI
Drag Racing Champion
Hey guys, I've been trying to diagnose a front driver side suspension creak for the past several months, and I'm not having much luck. It happens at low speeds (<40mph), primarily over bumps and uneven surfaces. The sound is definitely more audible inside the car than outside, and seems to be coming from the behind the dash/lower A-pillar/strut area on the driver's side. Best way to describe it as a muffled creaking/squeaking noise.
Audio taken inside of the car while going over a speed bump - the creaking sound is pretty clear.
https://youtu.be/aghy2iY0GLY
Audio taken from above the strut tower while going over speed bump - all I hear is the normal gas flow sound of the strut, no strut bearing or mount sounds
https://youtu.be/xla0hUGAimM
Here's the work I've performed in the past few months, none of which has resolved the issue:
-New Strut Mount and Bearing with new TTY Bolts
-New H&R 26mm Swaybar and bushings
-Installed Subframe Collar Kit with all new TTY bolts - all are properly torqued/stretched
-Retorqued sway bar endlinks - both top and bottom nuts
I thought for sure it would have been one of those things, given that they seem to be the common causes I've read. The new strut mount/bearing fixed the coil spring popping when turning the wheel, but not the creaking sound over bumps. The subframe collar / bolt kit fixed the subframe clunk that I felt going in and out of my driveway, but not the creak. So, while I'm glad I did those things...it still hasn't fixed my creaking issue.
Any ideas before I start tearing this thing apart?
Thanks!!
Audio taken inside of the car while going over a speed bump - the creaking sound is pretty clear.
https://youtu.be/aghy2iY0GLY
Audio taken from above the strut tower while going over speed bump - all I hear is the normal gas flow sound of the strut, no strut bearing or mount sounds
https://youtu.be/xla0hUGAimM
Here's the work I've performed in the past few months, none of which has resolved the issue:
-New Strut Mount and Bearing with new TTY Bolts
-New H&R 26mm Swaybar and bushings
-Installed Subframe Collar Kit with all new TTY bolts - all are properly torqued/stretched
-Retorqued sway bar endlinks - both top and bottom nuts
I thought for sure it would have been one of those things, given that they seem to be the common causes I've read. The new strut mount/bearing fixed the coil spring popping when turning the wheel, but not the creaking sound over bumps. The subframe collar / bolt kit fixed the subframe clunk that I felt going in and out of my driveway, but not the creak. So, while I'm glad I did those things...it still hasn't fixed my creaking issue.
Any ideas before I start tearing this thing apart?
Thanks!!
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