Complete strut replacement driver's side, now noisy when turning or going over bumps

Tiny
SHERRY004
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 175,000 MILES
Last week my strut broke through the top. The metal of my van was fine but the strut was shot. A friend and I replaced it. Everything seemed fine. But today I noticed a pretty loud squeaking noise coming from it while turning and going over bumps. So now I'm wondering if I did something wrong. It seemed like a pretty easy straightforward job. The hardest part was breaking the bolts free that hold the tire to the strut.
Tuesday, May 28th, 2019 AT 10:11 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

In the diagrams down below I have included the instructions from the vehicle manufacturer for both the removal and the installation of the front struts on your vehicle. Please go through this guide and get back to us with what you are able to figure out from them.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Tuesday, May 28th, 2019 AT 11:50 PM
Tiny
SHERRY004
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  • 7 POSTS
I replaced it with a complete strut so all the steps you sent we didn't have to do. We just undid the three bolts at the top and three at the bottom and switched it out. Also my van didn't look like your pictures inside of it. The squeaking is definitely where it attaches to the top under the hood and it's happening even over tiny bumps but not while turning unless I hit a bump while turning also.
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Thursday, May 30th, 2019 AT 8:09 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Can you please shoot a quick video with your phone so we can hear the noise? That would be great. You can upload it here with your response.
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Saturday, June 1st, 2019 AT 2:59 PM
Tiny
SHERRY004
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  • 7 POSTS
I started this video about a block and a half from my house. There's a block worth of bumpy road, then a right turn onto my street, little more bumpy road, then a left turn into my driveway. I kept the phone almost right on top of the top bracket to the strut.
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Sunday, June 2nd, 2019 AT 12:05 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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This sounds like lower control arm bushings are worn. I would swap out the lower arms so you get new lower ball joints as well. Here are diagrams, check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find.
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Tuesday, June 4th, 2019 AT 10:21 AM
Tiny
SHERRY004
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  • 7 POSTS
Well, I just had my wheel bearing replaced on that side couple days ago on Monday and my mechanic just said it is because I only replaced one strut. Now my van is sitting at an angle putting stress on the new strut. He didn't mention anything else needing done. But I'll definitely ask him to look at it again just in case.
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Wednesday, June 5th, 2019 AT 4:24 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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It should not be leaning to one side, something sounds like it is not done correctly. If the hub is loose it can cause that noise as well FYI. Here are installation instructions to replace the hub bearings correctly. Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Wednesday, June 5th, 2019 AT 4:32 PM
Tiny
SHERRY004
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I took my van in already this past Monday. He didn't just replace the bearings themselves. He installed a hub/bearing assembly. I took it to a certified shop, not just some backyard mechanic.

The only thing that keeps bothering me is that I can hear it plain as day coming from the very top of the strut on the driver's side. Yet I've taken it to two certified mechanics at two different shops in two different cities and the first said he didn't hear anything but a bad wheel bearing and the second said it's coming from the passenger side and the bad wheel bearing on the drivers side and said in order to get rid of the noise I have to do the other strut to even everything out.

All I know is that I have four to six children in my minivan on a daily basis and the noise is scaring me, but nobody seems to know exactly what is wrong.
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Thursday, June 6th, 2019 AT 12:46 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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I don't think it is serious but can I ask did they replace the struts with OEM units? Also did they replace the upper strut mounts as well? If so it sounds like you have a defective unit and need to have it replaced.
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Thursday, June 6th, 2019 AT 2:07 PM
Tiny
SHERRY004
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I replaced the strut myself with the help of a friend. This picture is of the box the part came in. I'm starting to think it's my sway bar link. Which must have been damaged while taking it off of the strut. The ones on there are only maybe two years old, if that. There's no squeaking while turning the wheel. It's only when I hit bumps, even just small cracks in the pavement. If it makes my van bounce even a tiny bit going over it then I hear the squeak. Now I also noticed today when I went to backup out of my driveway that it's making a noise kinda like a "clunk" but softer in the same general area as the squeaking but lower just as I'm switching into reverse and letting off the brake.
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Thursday, June 6th, 2019 AT 3:06 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, cheap replacement. I would get name brand replacements and check the sway bar links.

Here is a good strut:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CHFN0Q2/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=2carprcom-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00CHFN0Q2&linkId=d167af3871c2ee00039b207a394c3cec

Please let us know what happens.
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Friday, June 7th, 2019 AT 10:46 AM
Tiny
SHERRY004
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
It was gifted to me by a friend. It's not a brand I'd typically buy if I was to get it myself. I generally shop around for the cheapest name brands I can find. My friend just showed up with it and I wasn't going to "look a gift horse in the mouth" so to speak. Things have been especially hard since my husband passed away in February leaving me four kids, two cats, all the bills and car repairs. Hopefully the one on it and the sway bar will hold up until I can get some extra money to replace it again. Probably won't be very soon. Thanks for your time and help.
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Friday, June 7th, 2019 AT 10:57 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Sorry to hear life has thrown you a curve ball, hang in there. Let me know what happens.
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Saturday, June 8th, 2019 AT 1:34 PM

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