Creaking from front drivers side suspension

I did a bit of searching and didnt find much. Tried searching tuners but its not loading ATM, DAMN DIAL UP
Anyways Whenever wieght shifts from breaking/turning it sounds like there is creaking from the front drivers shock tower. ITs starting to become annoying. At first I almost thought the dash was like shifting or something. Im really hoping it isnt the ball joints, but it sounds high up from in the car. The compression arms were just replaced, but I ll have to take a look at the laterals.
I had the front shocks off both sides of the car in under an hour today, took the spring off that drivers shock and see nothing visibly wrong, any ideas? Happy I had no stubborn bolts though! Was easy as pie

Strut bearing!
Could be ball joints too.

Mine did the same thing, it ended up being a sway bar bushing but it could be a few things

good luck

Steve

Where is the strut bearing? Can it be inspected? Is it part of the body or the upper mount. This is something to be concerned about since Josh M. wants them. I dont want to give him sharty shocks. I guess after I get the illuminas on tomorrow and see if the noise is there or not it will help determine weather or not it was infact the shocks.
EDIT : Steve you may be on to something! I remember when we did the ball joints my auto teacher pointed something out over there. I will take a look at that too!

^^^
Strut mount - at the top of the assembly, under the three studs/nuts.

Anyhow, try to listen for it outside of the car while someone spins the wheel.
You could spray lube some suspect areas and see if it goes away.

I second sway bar end links mate! Try getting someone to bounce up and down in the door sill and take a look.

Yeah Is there anything I can really do before the suspension is back on? just check the lateral arms I guess? I doesnt matter so much if I go to the trouble to put it back together to figure it out either. It has to come back apart when I get the springs. I need it together to get anywhere, and I wont likely replace the problem in a day or 2.

Oh Rob I looked at the strut mount and it visually looks fine. Not shure it will make the noise by turning the wheel, more if you brake and shift the wieght a decent amount, or take a corner a certain way.

You can see the strut turn from under the hood? Wow you have problems then, or X-RAY vision

Rob Im just talking about looking at it after I took it all apart today. You have lost me Either you didnt fully read the original post or I am missing something you have tried to tell me.

Yep I missed something nevermind

But my point was that the assembly rotates at the top so it could make some noise, and should be obviously either the ball joint or that mount if it's at the top.

Well doesnt look like there is much I can figure out then untill I put it all back. I guess I should oil up all the upper mounts when I install and check again? Im more interested in looking at that sway bar now. Maybe I can just bolt the lower shock mount together, with the sway bar back on and such without the shock. That way I wont have the spring to fight and I can move by hand and look at the sway bar without the wheel in the way. Not shure would it need the stress of the spring to make the noise?

Mine did the same thing right before I sold it. Helder Dapont replaced the control arm bushing and it was solid again.

I hope it's not the same problem as mine. It was the front crossmember that runs under the rad. One side where the bushing mounts to the frame had rotted out and it was hanging. I fixed it well, but what a pita.

Hmm My cross memeber is fine, but the actual rad support is the worst spot on the car, has a small hole through the middle. New Illuminas are on the front so it definately wasnt the shocks, and I m doubting the springs. It seemed that the sway arm links were fine besides cracked open dust covers. I ll have to get someone on the door jamb and take a listen.

It wasn't the crossmember itself but the point it mounts to on the passengers side. You may need to try to pry it away in order to tell it's bad. Took me and my brother at the same time to pinpoint it. Was most prominent in reverse when the engine was torquing the crossmember away from the frame.

You mean the boot? Isn't it a mini ball joint? If the boot's ripped or cracked then it's probably dry and making the sounds.

That makes sense, It isnt loose, Maybe I better keep em lubed up before they really wear out. Yeah I meant the boot.

Could be a bunch of things, first thing I'd check is the rubber spring to top hat isolators. They tend to wear through & you get metal to metal contact. After that check all ball joints & bushings. Also make sure all subframe bushings/bolts are there.