Did my car turn into Betty White?!? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Scalded Dog · 02-16-2016, 09:08 AM

I need a little help... recently (one month/ 2000 miles ago) a creaking/ popping sound began, coming from the area of the front driver side spring/ strut area. It's not there when the car is cold... can't produce the sound in the morning. But, after the car is warmed up, and has been driven for a while, any movement (light accel/ decel) that slightly bounces the front end up and down will create the sound.

When the car is parked, I can create the sound (as long as the car is still warm from its last drive) by lifting and pressing the front of the car up and down. This produces far more of the sound than rocking the car forward and backward (although the forward/ backward action, of course, still produces a little bit of resulting up/ down movement, so there is a LITTLE bit of the creaking sound).

I have replaced the brake pads (it was time, regardless), have compressed the spring and reseated the little rubber pad that the spring sits on, and lubed the everlovin' crap out of every joint, bushing, nut and bolt. I cannot find any loose, worn, or less- than- good part.

2011 1LT with 118,000 miles... I drive it hard, and 20+ miles of my daily commute are winding mountain roads.

Any ideas why this thing has creaky joints like an old lady? Does it need a Snickers bar? What DOES it need?

Skillet · 02-16-2016, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scalded Dog

I need a little help... recently (one month/ 2000 miles ago) a creaking/ popping sound began, coming from the area of the front driver side spring/ strut area. It's not there when the car is cold... can't produce the sound in the morning. But, after the car is warmed up, and has been driven for a while, any movement (light accel/ decel) that slightly bounces the front end up and down will create the sound.

When the car is parked, I can create the sound (as long as the car is still warm from its last drive) by lifting and pressing the front of the car up and down. This produces far more of the sound than rocking the car forward and backward (although the forward/ backward action, of course, still produces a little bit of resulting up/ down movement, so there is a LITTLE bit of the creaking sound).

I have replaced the brake pads (it was time, regardless), have compressed the spring and reseated the little rubber pad that the spring sits on, and lubed the everlovin' crap out of every joint, bushing, nut and bolt. I cannot find any loose, worn, or less- than- good part.

2011 1LT with 118,000 miles... I drive it hard, and 20+ miles of my daily commute are winding mountain roads.

Any ideas why this thing has creaky joints like an old lady? Does it need a Snickers bar? What DOES it need?

You just answered your own question.

TooCool5 · 02-16-2016, 09:50 AM

Scalded, I would get under there and inspect every sway bar and joint, re torque all the engine cradle and suspension bolts.
Also sometimes a second person listening while you press on the car to duplicate the noise helps.
Something is loose or worn out.
We haven't heard much of this problem before.

Rock-It Man · 02-16-2016, 09:53 AM

Strut bearing?

two_wheel_mayhem · 02-16-2016, 11:10 AM

How many miles on on your front struts?

BMR Sales · 02-16-2016, 11:50 AM

Look at your Sway Bar Bushings to see if they are tightened down

1Coopgt · 02-16-2016, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock-It Man

Strut bearing?

Quote:

Originally Posted by two_wheel_mayhem

How many miles on on your front struts?

+1 I was thinking the same thing .

christianchevell · 02-16-2016, 05:31 PM

check the struts and any thing you can... just go to a good local tire store that does suspension work.

dmcm494 · 02-16-2016, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Coopgt

+1 I was thinking the same thing .

+2 on strut bearings or mounts. Lift hood and look at washer on top of strut as you rock car up and down. See if there is a lot of slack between the washer and the top of strut tower.

P.S. Don't put your fingers under the washer while shaking.

charles71 · 02-17-2016, 04:08 AM

Does it happen when you turn the wheel left to right stop to stop when sitting still?

Its your ball joints.

songsj · 02-17-2016, 04:36 AM

Do you have a catch can on your car? Just curious.

DanielW · 02-17-2016, 07:23 AM

Upper strut mount (which contains the bearing) is either loose or worn. Looks like a giant black rubber washer.

PostNup · 02-17-2016, 07:39 AM

I hope you get your problem fixed soon and its something simple.

That being said... I am curious how you know Betty White doesn't creek first thing in the morning? Is there more to this story? Lol

dmginc · 02-17-2016, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PostNup

I hope you get your problem fixed soon and its something simple.

That being said... I am curious how you know Betty White doesn't creek first thing in the morning? Is there more to this story? Lol

02-16-2016, 09:08 AM	#1
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	Did my car turn into Betty White?!? I need a little help... recently (one month/ 2000 miles ago) a creaking/ popping sound began, coming from the area of the front driver side spring/ strut area. It's not there when the car is cold... can't produce the sound in the morning. But, after the car is warmed up, and has been driven for a while, any movement (light accel/ decel) that slightly bounces the front end up and down will create the sound. When the car is parked, I can create the sound (as long as the car is still warm from its last drive) by lifting and pressing the front of the car up and down. This produces far more of the sound than rocking the car forward and backward (although the forward/ backward action, of course, still produces a little bit of resulting up/ down movement, so there is a LITTLE bit of the creaking sound). I have replaced the brake pads (it was time, regardless), have compressed the spring and reseated the little rubber pad that the spring sits on, and lubed the everlovin' crap out of every joint, bushing, nut and bolt. I cannot find any loose, worn, or less- than- good part. 2011 1LT with 118,000 miles... I drive it hard, and 20+ miles of my daily commute are winding mountain roads. Any ideas why this thing has creaky joints like an old lady? Does it need a Snickers bar? What DOES it need?

02-16-2016, 09:50 AM	#3
TooCool5 Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LS 3.6 LLT V6 325 HP Join Date: May 2009 Location: LS Posts: 4,242 View My Garage	Scalded, I would get under there and inspect every sway bar and joint, re torque all the engine cradle and suspension bolts. Also sometimes a second person listening while you press on the car to duplicate the noise helps. Something is loose or worn out. We haven't heard much of this problem before. __________________ 2010 Camaro Auto, Inferno Orange, Titanium Interior, Gearhead Wheels AIRAID CAI

02-16-2016, 11:10 AM	#5
two_wheel_mayhem Would rather be riding Drives: No car no more Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,750	How many miles on on your front struts? __________________ No dog in this fight anymore. 5th Gen owner 2009-2016.

02-16-2016, 05:31 PM	#8
christianchevell old school chevy rodder Drives: 2013 2SS/RS Manual,DM exhaust,CRT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,587 View My Garage	check the struts and any thing you can... just go to a good local tire store that does suspension work. __________________ 2021 Wild Cherry ZL1 A10, Sunroof, Data, Carbon, Nav, RotoFab Dry CAI, Elite x2, Borla ATK, Driveshaft shop

02-17-2016, 04:08 AM	#10
charles71 Drives: 2011 Camaro SS Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 110 View My Garage	Betty White Does it happen when you turn the wheel left to right stop to stop when sitting still? Its your ball joints. __________________ Livernois Stage II Heads & Cam, LS7 Lifters, Ported Intake & Throttle Body, Rotofab CAI, BBK High Flow Fuel Rail @ Guage, Eaton Tru Trac Posi with 3.91 gears, 1000 HP Axels, Kooks Long tubes & full Corsa Exhaust, GM Hurst Short Throw Shifter, Mcleod RXT Twin Disc, Vitesse Throttle Controller, 1.5" Lowering Springs, Strut Tower Brace, SLP 25% Underdrive Pulley, Apex reservoir relocation kit and air scoop.

02-16-2016, 09:53 AM	#4
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,033 View My Garage	Strut bearing?

02-16-2016, 11:50 AM	#6
BMR Sales Drives: Race Car Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Seffner, FL Posts: 6,226	Look at your Sway Bar Bushings to see if they are tightened down

02-17-2016, 04:36 AM	#11
songsj Drives: 2015 2SS/RS Summit White Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: MPLS Posts: 804	Do you have a catch can on your car? Just curious.

02-17-2016, 07:23 AM	#12
DanielW Drives: 2011 SS/RS convertible Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Bryant, al Posts: 60	Upper strut mount (which contains the bearing) is either loose or worn. Looks like a giant black rubber washer.

02-17-2016, 07:39 AM	#13
PostNup CAR-DASHIAN Drives: 2015 Ashen Gray Metallic 2SS/RS L99 Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 540	I hope you get your problem fixed soon and its something simple. That being said... I am curious how you know Betty White doesn't creek first thing in the morning? Is there more to this story? Lol __________________ PERFORMANCE: ColdAirInductions CAI, ADM Race Scoop, Cordes Performance Racing Ported TB/IM/Custom VVT Cam, WFO Milled Heads, Stainless Power 1 7/8" LT/3" HFCs, JBA 3" Comp. Cat-Back, Taylor 10.4mm Plug Wires, Tim King Performance Stage 3 6L80, Circle D Billet 3600 Stall, Nic D ECM/TCM Tune, - 458rwhp/413rwtq (prior to PIM), Forgestar F14 (F)18" / (R)17" Rims. SUSPENSION: Z/28 Rear UCA Bushings, Carlyle Racing LCA/TA, BMR Adj. Toe Rods/Xtreme Anti-Roll Bar, Justice Pete Castor Locks/Radius Rod Inserts, Pegasus Billet Rear Cradle Bushings, Mickey Thompson Street SS II 305/45/17 tires.