Creaky front end

[zoomie]

Creaky front end
I’ve had my alreo for about 4 months. It was at a used car lot and I did a pretty detailed test drive and everything seemed fine. The brakes were shot but I knew he was going to replace them and it was a pretty good deal so I bought it. It had 22k miles on it and he put new pads and rotors on the front.
After about 6 weeks later I started hearing this creaking sound during low speed driving. It’s probably there on the highway to but I can’t hear it at that speed. It happens when I’m going over bumps and it sounds like my old f150 when it needed a grease job. I don’t think the Alero has any grease fittings.
When I had the car in the air I looked at the struts and saw oil dripping from the top. I called the dealer to complain about bad struts and they mechanic said there is nothing mechanically wrong with the struts but they all have that creaky noise so his deal is to pour trany fluid down the top of the shock tower to stop the noise. He said I should to that every oil change.
1. Has anyone heard of this?
2. If I wanted to really fix this do you think I could change the parts at the top of the strut?

[zoomie]

oops, I posted this twice. sorry

[zoomie]

If no-one's heard of this I'm just going to replace the strut bushings.

Is it all one piece call the "plate"?

[alero440]

its the top plate. Mine makes a thunk when turning (no its nots the CV's) Struts do go bad and need to be replaced. Alero people generally use KYB struts and they are like $60 for one. You can also go to auto part stores and get monroe's. I've been riding on blown struts for like 25,000 miles (not saying its a good thing to do) I'm just more careful going in and out of driveways too fast.

[zoomie]

Thanks, I think the struts are ok, they seem to act fine and car handles well, just that creaking is embarasing, especially when the boss is inthe car. I'm gonna try just the plates. If that's dosen't do it, well then I have them when i'm ready to do the struts.

btw, I've burned a few brain cells at Killbear.......

[alero440]

Thanks, I think the struts are ok, they seem to act fine and car handles well, just that creaking is embarasing, especially when the boss is inthe car. I'm gonna try just the plates. If that's dosen't do it, well then I have them when i'm ready to do the struts.

btw, I've burned a few brain cells at Killbear.......

HA! yeah it was worth the 7 hour drive to hang up there for a week. I freaked out when my friends took us out to Davy Island and then told me the only way down was to jump off the cliff into the water. Needless to say I raised a bitch fit was able to get down nicely.

[zoomie]

HA! yeah it was worth the 7 hour drive to hang up there for a week. I freaked out when my friends took us out to Davy Island and then told me the only way down was to jump off the cliff into the water. Needless to say I raised a bitch fit was able to get down nicely.

I'm about 4 hours away. We went in the fall so it was mostly drinking around the camp fire and defending agains racoons.

[alero440]

I'm about 4 hours away. We went in the fall so it was mostly drinking around the camp fire and defending agains racoons.

Yep, the racoons used my car one night as a jungle gym. bastards!

[xbxradxsx]

is that what would be wrong if i have a very light squeaking noise only when going slow and turning? Mine just started the other day and it does it either direction i turn i think.

[zoomie]

Yep, the racoons used my car one night as a jungle gym. bastards!

I had to sleep on the picnic table one night (that's another story) an I woke up in the middle of the night with one on my chest eating chips.

[zoomie]

is that what would be wrong if i have a very light squeaking noise only when going slow and turning? Mine just started the other day and it does it either direction i turn i think.

That's what I'm guessing. Gotta get a spring compressor and give it a try.

Anyone else have a better idea?

[cherrington17]

mine does that. mechs told me the control arm bushings just need to be greased.

only thing is... i've greased them about 4 times now... and its only a temp fix. i have no idea why it keeps happening.

[natedawg9640]

I had to sleep on the picnic table one night (that's another story) an I woke up in the middle of the night with one on my chest eating chips.

i slept in my couch and awoke to one in my garage... and then it looked at the end of a shotgun barrel... and then it fell asleep.

[zoomie]

i slept in my couch and awoke to one in my garage... and then it looked at the end of a shotgun barrel... and then it fell asleep.

It was a dark and stormy night when I got the "honey I hear something on the roof" elbow in the ribs. Went up there just in time to see one dissapear into my atic. We used bright lights and Led Zeppelin to get him/her out.

[petapit]

Hi,

I want to know where is the top plate and control arm bushings located. Is it easier to access the parts to grease them?

Thanks.

[cherrington17]

for the bushings, you gotta take the wheel off (unless your tiny enough to get behind it) and there are like 4 or 6 rubber connetions around the vicinity of the brake area. (kinda around the perimeter of them) if i give those a good hosing with WD-40, my squeeking tends to stop for about a month...

[goldalero99]

I have a similar sound since I just replaced my springs (with lowering springs) a week ago. I haven't had the car long, but I don't think this noise existed before. I think it may be the way I installed the top strut mounts. I'm going to try and remove and adjust to see if the noise goes away.

[Trickyslick]

What happened with this I have a creaking every time I turn. I've gotten used to it but if I could fix it that would be sweet. Everything is stock for me.

[YALEROYNOT]

i have had a squeeking (metal to metal ) sound from the rear strut since I put the lowering springs on my car. I think it is the top plate rubber but have to remove the strut to be sure.

[Vinalero]

i have had a squeeking (metal to metal ) sound from the rear strut since I put the lowering springs on my car. I think it is the top plate rubber but have to remove the strut to be sure.


same from the rear right strut since putting lowering springs.

[YALEROYNOT]

same from the rear right strut since putting lowering springs.

did you fix it ? what was it ?

[Vinalero]

nah its still like this. It doesnt really change anything. Its when I take some bumps, its like something is loose in the back. My mech and I presume its the fact that the lowering springs probably doesnt perfectly sit where they should and they move a little bit over potholes and bumps.

Its like this since they were installed, last spring. I noticed a difference when I got my rear sway bar though... the noise is less present. I suppose that having 2 nuts in the back on each strut tower instead of one (factory) help thighting all this.

[billytheman1188]

i have stock springs with 60k on them, the front ones were just replaced after my accident. But the back right one is starting to make the same sound. Is it ok if i wait until after ASS to replace it???? can i drive long distances with a bad strut? or should i just replace the backs ones now..... the thing about replacing them now is that i dont have too much money, i need to get the headers installed, and get my speed sensor fixed, along with whatever is causing my gauges to not work at random times..... lol

[zoomie]

I've been doing a ton of highway driving lately so the noise hasn't been bothering me but I know it has to be done. We have a long weekend coming up so I just picked up two Strut Mounts and got my name on a rental spring compressor and I plan to do both on Saturday. I'll try to post pictures if anyone wants them.

[zoomie]

Did the job last weekend and the noise is gone. I have a quiet car back again.
Funny thing is I have a 2001 regal with 250,000kms on it and I've never changed the struts or the mounts, but this alero started making noise at 60,000kms.
Oh well, now I know how to change a strut. It's really not a very big job.

[meadus101]

I think i'll be doing this soon.

[Beholder88]

GM actually posted a recall regarding this issue. I can't remember where I read the information, but it's been a problem on the N body cars for a while. GM seems to think that it isn't a serious problem, and poses no safety hazard, it's more of a pain in the arse than anything. If you search recalls for any year Alero/Malibu/Grand Am, its listed as a TSB, or Technical Service Bulliten. I don't have access to get into the details without paying for them, maybe someone on here can find it?

[itsbmw]

GM actually posted a recall regarding this issue. I can't remember where I read the information, but it's been a problem on the N body cars for a while. GM seems to think that it isn't a serious problem, and poses no safety hazard, it's more of a pain in the arse than anything. If you search recalls for any year Alero/Malibu/Grand Am, its listed as a TSB, or Technical Service Bulliten. I don't have access to get into the details without paying for them, maybe someone on here can find it?

I have access to GM Global connect, it's what the dealerships use to get all their info, you can PM me what you are looking for and I can tell you.

[black]

might this also affect pulling when i drive??

one time it will pull to the right, next time, to the left.