Creaking front suspension/brakes

[APCdude]

Hello all,

I am having trouble locating the source of a creaking sound that appears when braking under 10mph on the front passenger side. It doesn't always show up, but lately it has been almost all the time.

It sounds kind of like a mix of front end suspension creaking and kind of like the rotor is slipping in the pads. Strange sound...

Exactly 6 months ago I replaced the rotors and brake pads, and the system is bled well. All of the suspension parts look fine, and all of the bushings around the wheel were replaced about 2 years ago.

A bit earlier I took off the caliper and inspected the rotor and caliper, which checked out fine. Also I took off the brake assembly and rotated the wheel bearing, which seemed perfectly fine. The only weird thing is that when turning the rotor by hand when the brake assembly and caliper are on, there is a rough spot of friction for about 1/4 of the rotor. However, the pads are new and even and the rotors are new and do not look warped as well.

What on earth could this be?

[APCdude]

bump

[180fan]

what do you have up front? suspension mods can make noise.

also you didn't post what car or year in the title or the body of the post.

[APCdude]

No mods. About 2 years ago I ran into a curb on the drivers side, and that propelled me to replace the tension rod and control arm, as well as the tie rod end bushing. Everything else seemed to be unaffected.

Update- today I was able to produce the sound just from turning (both left and right) from under 10mph, so that might eliminate the brake system from the variables.

[armysweitzer]

just pop your wheels off and make sure everything is tight. Id put good money on the fact its either your springs moving around on your strut (has to be seated) or your calipers arent tight enough and rotate when you hit the brakes.

[180fan]

I'd check out the tie rods first but the sound could also be coming from the top of the strut as well. Is it only when you're turning or is it present for most of the time even in straight line?

[APCdude]

Both- although it is most prevalent when going straight and usually only under braking, but as I discovered yesterday, it also comes when turning sharp under 10mph.

The brake calipers are tightened to spec, so it couldn't be that.

I'll take a look at the spring and strut brace, but when I looked at it yesterday everything seemed to be in order.

[180fan]

yeah check out the upper mount, the springs for sure.