Replaced Bearing assembly - Now it creaks

[nymorey]

I just replaced the bearing hub assembly on my 94 Lumina Z34.
I torqued the hub-to-steering knuckle nuts to 52 Ft-lbs and the shaft nut to 182 ft-lbs just as the book said. But now I have a creaking noise on that side (RF) when you turn the wheel.
Any ideas?
Could I have messed up the CV joint pressing it out of the old hub assembly?

[mlw35405]

Check the outer tie rod ends. Sometimes they will creak - especially when you disturb them. There is no grease fitting, which adds to the prob. Best bet is to replace both of them if one is creaking.

[nymorey]

Originally Posted by mlw35405

Check the outer tie rod ends. Sometimes they will creak - especially when you disturb them. There is no grease fitting, which adds to the prob. Best bet is to replace both of them if one is creaking.

Thanks.
When I did the bearing assembly I checked them with my hand and they are tight (I didn't remove them to install the assembly) and they don't creak when I turned the wheel with the car on the jack. It only creaks when it's moving.
I'll look at them again, is there another way to check them?

[dwalmop]

If I had to guess it sounds like you're hearing the spring spinning on the upper strut mount, which is normal. CV joints usually won't creak - they usually make a knocking noise.

[mlw35405]

Hmmm... actually my car is making a LOT of creaking itself, especially when you take off/slow down. (see my post lumina front control arm bushing replacement). I'm gonna tear it all apart this weekend and see what I can find and post it here. Just hope it doesn't decide to do it by itself before then...

[nymorey]

Originally Posted by dwalmop

If I had to guess it sounds like you're hearing the spring spinning on the upper strut mount, which is normal. CV joints usually won't creak - they usually make a knocking noise.

I didn't think it sounded like a CV. Someone at work mentioned the spring too. Any way to quiet it down? Maybe some grease?

[dwalmop]

yeah you could try grease but you'd have to somehow get grease between the spring and the mount, which involves more work than it's worth. I'd just try spraying some wd-40 up in there.

[nymorey]

Originally Posted by mlw35405

Hmmm... actually my car is making a LOT of creaking itself, especially when you take off/slow down. (see my post lumina front control arm bushing replacement). I'm gonna tear it all apart this weekend and see what I can find and post it here. Just hope it doesn't decide to do it by itself before then...

I will be anxiously awaiting your findings

[jeffcoslacker]

Creaks and grunts are usually caused by spring isolators or bushings, as was stated here. Sometimes when you have a car lifted, with all compession off the suspension, and you are doing work that involves moving/jarring parts that are normally under compression, you unseat a rubber part, or knock dirt into a gap between parts. The spray lube will stop the noise for a while when it finds it's way into the problem, but it may return. If it does it even when the car is standing still and you turn the wheel, I would suspect the upper spring isolator, or the strut bearing plate as the source.

[jeffcoslacker]

There are a couple of service bulletins from Chevy regarding creaks, grunts scrunching and popping noises on accellerating/turning associated with the Lumina. I can't remember where I saw them, though.

Mine grunts pretty loudly when you accelerate from a stop, especially in the cold.

Have someone turn the steering wheel while you watch the spring, the spring should not try to wind up at all. If it does, the bearing plate is siezing.

[nymorey]

I agree with your assessment. I wanted to make sure it wasn't a CV or worse. I think my son will have to live with the creaking.

Thanks
Ray
94 Lumina Z34
3.4.DOHC
130,000 miles

[mlw35405]

OK I finally got around to fixing my Lumina's moaning sounds. I did several things, one at a time, to see which one made the squeak go away.
Replaced lower control arm bushings. No effect. P.S. yes, you do have to get them pressed in.

Replaced ball joints. No effect.

Replaced SWAY BAR BUSHINGS - both the ones that go to the frame and the ones that go to the A-arm - noise went away!!! The ones that went to the a arm were, how do you say, perished.

Also replaced front lower engine mount. That took the clunk out when you let off the gas.

Hope this helps!

[300+]

Thanks for the info