Creaking

[hunter13605]

After my 10 mile one way daily trip home from school I parked my car outside the house and changed for work. We live on a the corner of a U and as I was going around the first bend, turning to the left, I heard a creaking noise. I immediately turned off the radio and listened very closely on my 1.1 mile trip to the gas station just up the road. The sound is coming from the drivers side near the tire… if I push down on that side of the car right above the tire and then let up I get the same sound. This makes me thing that it has noting to do with any steering mechanisms but more to do with the shock, spring, or something in the suspension.

Does anybody have any idea what would cause this noise? I had the same sound right after I had the passenger side lower ball joint replaced right after getting the car. It sounds like an old barn door that is left to swing in the wind with rusty hinges

Thanks in advance

[shorod]

Welcome to the forum!

What year and model is your Taurus? It's not critical in this post, but a general rule of thumb is you should provide the engine information for your car too (12V Vulcan, 24V Duratech, 3.0L SHO, 3.2L SHO, or 3.4L SHO).

Your analogy of the squeak to an old barn door may be pretty accurate. In the early to mid-1990's, Taurii seemed to have a problem with squeaks coming from the original equipment outer tie rod ends and/or lower ball joints. The joints were maintenance free and when they got dry, they had a tendency to squeak (like the barn door hinges). If you have access to a small, sharp pick, you can try poking a small hole in the boot of one of the joints, then inserting the straw from a can of white lithium grease into the hole. A couple of shots of grease, then take the car for a drive. If the noise goes away (temporarily) or changes significantly, you are on on the right track. Do one joint at a time so you will know when you found the problem joint.

If this makes no difference, then make sure the subframe bushing bolts are properly torqued.

If that has no effect, then you may be looking at a dry upper strut mount or anti-swaybar end links.

See if you can find another person to attempt to determine if the noise is coming from up high or down low when the car is bounced.

-Rod

[hunter13605]

I'm not really a car guy, but i know it is a 3.0 Liter V6. Its a 97 GL. The noise has since stopped since that post, which i just coppied from another board. It worries me that it would hear it one day and then the next morning it is just gone. Is it something i should be worried about?

[shorod]

Was there a significant temperature or moisture difference from when you heard it to when you didn't?

-Rod

[hunter13605]

I live in norther ny where it is generally cold durring this time of year, but as i recall that day it was unseasonably warm... normal had been around 20 and it got up to 55

[shorod]

I'd still lean towards a dry outer tie rod end or ball joint.

-Rod