98 S70, N/A, 5-Speed: Front end creak

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 13 Jun 2017, 12:18

This sound is making me crazy. First started hearing this sound a thousand miles after installing Meyle HD control arms. (My 2 yr-old FEBI's were doing a KER-FLUNK which, when removed, pointed to a very noisy ball joint.) Also installed Lemforder sway end links at the time. Car has all new Volvo subframe bushings (torqued properly) and engine mounts. It feels like a control arm bushing because I only feel it when accelerating abruptly or slamming on the brakes. Everything is torqued properly. Should I shoot some silicone spray into my bushings to see if that quiets them down? What else could this be?

Here's a video of the sound. It's not really good. But maybe someone on here has some amazing ears!!

Also, as suggested yesterday, I checked my strut mounts, they are after all, 2 yr old Gabriel Readymounts. I cannot spin the top of the mount at all.

Just some other info:
I installed three febi control arms (two on mine and one on my brother's V70) and I've taken out control arm bushing bolts twice before to change some axles: I've never gotten these noises. So I do this job more right than not most of the time!

Could something be wrong with my subframe?

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 13 Jun 2017, 18:56

Better video. The most pronounced sound is when accelerating from a full stop.

EDIT:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_dkydC5xM0

Video was having problems being embedded...

Post by **wizechatmgr** » 13 Jun 2017, 19:57

For me your first video played, but the 2nd did not.

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 13 Jun 2017, 21:15

wizechatmgr wrote: ↑13 Jun 2017, 19:57 For me your first video played, but the 2nd did not.

Just put up a link, wize... This sound is so annoying. The car was just starting to feel amazing. Like really amazing. And then, this... I think I made the sound worse with the Lemforders (which only points to it being something else, right?). Could this sound be connected in anyway to the brakes? My brakes seem rather noisy lately.... I'll take off my pads and clean and lube my slide pins this weekend. Not that I think that'll make a difference. But if nothing else it'll get me "in" there and hopefully point me in some direction.

The troubleshooting continues...

belskee · Post by **belskee** » 15 Jun 2017, 00:22

I can hear something on both vids but sounds like it's coming from inside the car, could it be your dashboard?

Can you tell if the sound is more prominent outside the car or inside?

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 18 Jun 2017, 23:44

I wish it were my dashboard!

Still can't seem to pinpoint the sounds. I got under the car today to try to pinpoint these noises.

I've noticed lately that I have NO NOISE for the first minute or so of driving. After, the noises are there on brakes and accelerating.

I checked my sway end links, they're solid.
I checked my control arm bolts, they're solid.
I checked the engine mount bolts, they're solid.
No ripped CV axle boots.
Brakes feel OK. (I can roll backwards and forwards in Neutral and all lights...)

I did notice today, when I went to pull on things that the right sway end link made a little noisy. I don't think this noise is coming from the sway end link, but maybe the sway bar??? The sound is only occurring on one side of the sway bar.

Here's the sound, I apologize for the poor video quality.

I don't know if the sound is getting worse. Here's another video of the original sound in situ. This video is of the creaks in question. Again, I apologize for the poor video quality...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL4YyVCQDgE

I ordered the xc90 spring seats and will swap them in to see if that's the problem... I figure they would go bad eventually so this is a must-do job. Going to be a pain to have to pay for an alignment again, but if it gets rid of the sound, it'll be worth it... Wish me luck!

Post by **erikv11** » 19 Jun 2017, 08:04

Presumably pulling on that link end is creating noise in the sway bar bushing, you will want to eyeball that area while you tweak it.

If you're just doing the spring seat, there is no reason to get another alignment.

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 19 Jun 2017, 08:45

erikv11 wrote: ↑19 Jun 2017, 08:04 Presumably pulling on that link end is creating noise in the sway bar bushing, you will want to eyeball that area while you tweak it.

If you're just doing the spring seat, there is no reason to get another alignment.

Thanks, erikv11. I'm going to mark the strut bolts on top to make sure I get everything lined up exactly as it was originally. The saga continues!!

Post by **abscate** » 19 Jun 2017, 10:21

Its the strut bolts on the bottom that are more important.

Can you just undo the LCA, disconnnect brakes and take the strut off without removing spindle and leaving front end geometry in place?

Post by **erikv11** » 19 Jun 2017, 12:03

To remove a strut, you don't need to disconnect the LCA or the brakes, it is much easier than that.

Disconnect endlink from strut
Remove ABS sensor wiring
Support LCA from underneath so the axle CV doesn't take the load
Remove 3 nuts from shock tower
Remove 2 bolts holding strut to knuckle
Remove strut - it's heavy