WELL, FRONT END CREAKING ISNT BALL JOINTS OR TIE RODS!!

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angrmgt

New Member

Aug 1, 2004

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Dec 9, 2004

#1

• Dec 9, 2004

• #1

my mechanic replaced the tie rods with new ones from moog with grease fittings, and then drilled the ball joints and put in grease fittings, then greased em up good. creaking when stopping hard is still there!! he then connected a listening device to different parts of the front end and drove around to see what part of the front end is creaking. apparently this electronic listening device can tell him where the noise/creaking is coming from determined the creaking is coming from the crossmember that is bolted into car by 5/16's bolts, about 12-15 of them. he tightened them all, but the noise is still there. anyone else have this problem, creaking occurs when braking hard, after car settles, you hear this creaking sound which feels like its under your feet, which would correspond to where this crossmember is. any tsb's out there, its real annoying. please help...

 

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Too Slow

New Member

Jan 23, 2004

209

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Houston, TX

Dec 9, 2004

#2

• Dec 9, 2004

• #2

i work at a ford dealership and with usually 2001 and up mustangs there is sometimes a creaking when turning. we haven't had them while braking though. the cause is from the power steering rack. if you look at the rack from the front there is 2 long bolts helping holding the rack in place. the fix is to take off the front nut and washer on each side and shave down the metal tube thingy a little till it is smooth. and that fixes them. ford just came out with new of those thingys but i can't remember what they are called but if it is under warranty take it in and c if that is it.

 

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angrmgt

New Member

Aug 1, 2004

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Dec 9, 2004

#3

• Dec 9, 2004

• #3

i'm thinking at this point i probably have to bring it in to ford. it is for sure creaking when stopping hard. also when turning a little, especially when backing up. i cant stand the noise!

 

Blev

New Member

Aug 17, 2003

1,295

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0

So. Cal. V-Town

Dec 9, 2004

#4

• Dec 9, 2004

• #4

Does it do it when you back up and brake? If not, try checking to see if your struts and tight. Check the two bolts that connect to the front wheel assembly.

EDIT
If that's not it, cross your fingers and hope it's not the wheel hub/bearing assembly.

 

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angrmgt

New Member

Aug 1, 2004

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Dec 9, 2004

#5

• Dec 9, 2004

• #5

yes, it does do it when backing up and braking...

 

triggz

Founding Member

May 15, 2002

1,218

0

37

Gadsden, AL

Dec 10, 2004

#6

• Dec 10, 2004

• #6

the rear end of my car makes horrible loud creaking noises if i do a break-stand... nothing up front though.

 

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VelR5.0

New Member

Jan 17, 2004

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SC

Dec 10, 2004

#7

• Dec 10, 2004

• #7

I fixed my rack and pinion noises with polyurethane bushings, that's it!! The factory ones are very soft and the rack moves a lot. Hope this helps!!

Velez

 

weldonGT

New Member

Jul 15, 2004

100

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0

Florida

Dec 10, 2004

#8

• Dec 10, 2004

• #8

I had a creaking/popping noise from my front end when I backed up out of my driveway in the mornings. Turns out there was a Service Memo on the A arms. Ford replaced them and that solved it, but that was on a 03 Mach1 so don't know if it would apply...good luck

 

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Stang2003GT

Member

Jul 7, 2003

254

0

16

Dec 10, 2004

#9

• Dec 10, 2004

• #9

My car makes creaking/popping noise from my front end when backing up and going over bumbs.

When I first got the car it made a creakin nosie so ford replaced the O-rings in powersteering rack. It made the nosie lessen for a bit. I then parked my car in a walgreens and a truck backed into the front left quarterpanel. The truch took off and I never found out who it was. I had to get numberous body parts replaced and driveside A-arm and spindel. Now the car never drives straight and creaks over every bump. 23k -03

 

Yellow01GT

Founding Member

Dec 14, 2001

1,127

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36

Jefferson City, MO

Dec 10, 2004

#10

• Dec 10, 2004

• #10

Isn't there some kind of plate or mounting bracket underneath the transmission? I suggest checking all the bolts on that and make sure they're tight. I had a creaking sound that was coming from that right after I bought my mustang. A couple of the bolts were really loose and you could actually tighten them by hand. But that was just my case. Good luck finding it.

 

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sgramer

Founding Member

Feb 6, 2002

97

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16

San Rafael, Ca

Dec 10, 2004

#11

• Dec 10, 2004

• #11

Bushing

Have you looked at all the bushins. They may need some attention.

Scott

 

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YtnGT

Founding Member

Sep 23, 2002

202

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0

TX

Dec 10, 2004

#12

• Dec 10, 2004

• #12

Too Slow said:

i work at a ford dealership and with usually 2001 and up mustangs there is sometimes a creaking when turning. we haven't had them while braking though. the cause is from the power steering rack. if you look at the rack from the front there is 2 long bolts helping holding the rack in place. the fix is to take off the front nut and washer on each side and shave down the metal tube thingy a little till it is smooth. and that fixes them. ford just came out with new of those thingys but i can't remember what they are called but if it is under warranty take it in and c if that is it.

Click to expand...

That sounds like what my stang does...

I just said f-it and have lived with the front end creaking sounds. I can sit in my driveway and quickly turn the wheels and hear creaking. I am positive that it is coming from the steering rack. Whenever I am working on the car and it is up on jack stands, I can grab a wheel and turn it and hear creaking/clunking from the small amount of play in the steering rack.

BTW the creaking is not causing any alignment or drivability problems.

 

ToplessStang

Member

Mar 7, 2004

591

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17

Montreal, Canada

Dec 10, 2004

#13

• Dec 10, 2004

• #13

If your car is an 03 I don't see why you didn't take it to Ford. Here is a SSM I got out of the Ford computer. Hope it helps.

17506 2003 MUSTANG - FRONT SUSPENSION NOISE
SOME 2003 MUSTANGS BUILT FROM 10/1/2002 TO 9/1/2003 MAY EXHIBIT A SQUEAKING OR CRUNCHING NOISE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS OR BRAKING. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. TO SERVICE, REPLACE BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS PER PROCEDURE IN WORKSHOP MANUAL, SECTION 204-01. FOR LX VEHICLES, REPLACE WITH XR3Z-3078-AA (RIGHT SIDE) AND XR3Z-3079- AA (LEFT SIDE). FOR GT VEHICLES, REPLACE WITH XR3Z-3078-BA (RIGHT SIDE) AND XR3Z-3079-BA (LEFT SIDE). FOR COBRA/MACH VEHICLES, REPLACE WITH 2R3Z-3078-AA (RIGHT SIDE) AND 2R3Z-3079-AA (LEFT SIDE). AFTER REPLACING THE CONTROL ARMS, CHECK ALIGNMENT AND ADJUST IF NECESSARY. VERIFY THAT THE NOISE IS ELIMINATED

 

jimsjams

New Member

Jun 14, 2012

1

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1

Jun 14, 2012

#14

• Jun 14, 2012

• #14

I had a creaking on my 2004 GT recently. The problem was....the struts. Yep. I had it lowered with new springs, struts and shocks. It started to develop a creaking when I would turn the wheel left to right. Not in the morning or cool weather. Only when it was hot outside 80+. I had the steering rack bushings replaced. Still creaked. Then the strut mounts replaced. Still creaked. We could not figure it out. Then, one very hot day, I brought it in to the shop and they used a stethoscope and listened to all the bushings, tie rods, ball joints and then finally, the strut shafts where they came through the towers at the top. Bingo!! You could hear a "grinding" especially in the passenger side strut. They were replaced under warranty with KYB struts and so far....no noise. Quite as a mouse.