Creaking noise from the front

[J4ck100]

Hi all,

I am a proud owner of a 1999 LS400 and she is my long term baby! 110,000 miles so barely run in 🙂

I try and stay on top of all maintenance as and when required.

Recently she has developed a squeak/creak from the front that is quite pronounced. It is most notable when you pull off from a standing start.

I'm just wondering if anyone has had this before. Obviously I'm going to need to get underneath her, but I always find it helpful to ask the question as to whether anyone has experienced this before 🙂

My best guess right now is either engine mounts or bushes - the noise is quite distinct from worn bushes however which normally give a 'clonk' noise - this isn't that, no heavy knock, just creaking!

 

Thanks in advance

[Cotswold Pete]

Only squeak I ever had was from the rear, which went when I replaced a shock which was done pre-MOT. 

Also my Mk3 had bad knocking due to failing bushes on front control arms, whereas Mk4 towards the end of it's life there was no knocking even though they were end of life.

Best of luck locating and sorting

 

[Malc1]

I’ll ask summat simple …… sparing oily spray around the bushes generally ! 
That might help ……. Try it and see !
 

Dont  think I’ve ever experienced any creaks or groans apart from once when a worn bush made itself known with a “ clunk “ driving thru the Italian alps a while back …….. at about 170k miles maybe …….long back ……. Didn’t affect my driving at all but a few months later was an MOT issue 

Hope you resolve the issue cost effectively 

 

good luck

Malc 

[Malc1]

jack, I've just remembered ....... last August when I bought my 91 Ls400 it creaked and groaned a lot ...  97k miles  or so ...... it's now 100k miles and I've put her thru' her paces quite a lot and often .......  that's loosened up everything and I rarely hear anything untoward now  .......  maybe you'rs just needs that Italian Tune Up  .....  your 110k miles is worryingly low, these cars need a good cheering up sometimes to keep everything in fine fettle 😉

Malc

[Scribe]

How long has the creak/squeak been going on?  If I get stuck in traffic for a long time in warm weather, I get the same creak.  But it disappears when the car has cooled down.  I've never bothered to have it investigated.

[Stanwithaplan]

Sorry jack. I've not experienced this issue any of mine. Rubber bushes and mounts are definitely the logical place to start imho. Good luck with getting to the bottom of it. I watch with interest. 

[BigBoomer]

Creaks when pulling away (weight transfer) or when steering are almost always rubber bushes and such.
However it can also be down to damaged springs (my better half's Focus had the problem and both front springs had snapped), down to dragging brake pads, or other causes.

[Malc1]

Maybe we’re “ overthinking” all this 🤔

A simple cost effective ( zero cost ) might be to just drive her more robustly for a000 or 2 miles …… that Italian Tune Up ….. to limber everything all up …… she’s sure been underused since new 🤞

Malc 

[J4ck100]

Well by jove.

 

She is quiet as a mouse today after heavy rain yesterday (biblical down south).

 

This leads me to think we are looking at a case of dry/sqeaky bushes. I will make a note to get underneath with some silicone spray at some point.

 

Happy motoring all.

[Scribe]

I think you're right, jack.  Maybe my bushes dry out in hot weather because there's not enough cool air passing underneath the car.  I'll get them sprayed at some point.