Creaking front end noise

Time for an inspection at a tire and alignment shop. In particular it sounds like you could be describing lower control arm bushings. The rubber part can make a creaking noise when it slides slowly on a metal part and has weight on it, but they are often quiet when they slide quickly as in over bigger bumps at higher speeds. Often you just cannot hear them at higher speeds.

Inner anti-sway bar bushings can squeak too but they will have less tendency to do that when driving straight ahead. There is only tension on them when the steering system is turned to one side. Lower ball joints can make noise when they are worn. It is indeed possible for front brake rotors to cause a crunching noise but that almost always happens right after a low-cost brake job or one that is done by an inexperienced mechanic who has not learned the many tricks used to prevent those noises. A warped rotor can cause a brake caliper to slide back and forth on its mount. That is why those mounts are designed that way, but if the special grease wears off or was not applied during a brake job, you might hear the rubber inserts sliding over the mounting bolts. That will make more noise during braking when there is more force on those bolts, but if the rotors are warped bad enough to cause that kind of noise, you would notice a shimmy in the steering wheel or feel a pulsation in the brake pedal.

Try reversing slowly and if you hear the noise, it is the brake pad wear indicator that is brushing against the rotor, indicating the pads are due for replacement.

It could also be due to uneven wear of the rotor, especially at the edges that is emitting the noise when the pads are not in full contact.

Get the brakes checked.

Thank you for the update. There are many possibilities and you have just encountered one that you were able to solve by this method. You should check the slider bolts for sticking which would cause problem to recur if they are not moving smoothly.

Look at the CV boots. I would venture to guess that a close look will reveal that one or more of them is torn and the grease they retain is gone. It is highly likely that a CV axle is in need of replacement. Not too bad of a job for the do-it-yourselfer. Here is the guide

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-cv-axle

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers

Hi there,

This can often be a faulty valve in the suspension strut, when they start to leak they can knock over rough roads. Also, have the ball joints checked and the strut top pivot plates, strut there.

Mark (mhpautos)

Yes, replacing the struts would be the solution. There is no repair for the struts. After market struts for the front are about $150.00 each plus labor.