Creaking noise on lock?

Hi guys,

Before I go diving in, has anyone has a creak/ click noise from drivers front wheel when on/ approaching full lock rolling forward very slowly. It appears to do it on either lock but mostly when the wheels are facing right lock? Brakes are free and not binding, everything looks sound underneath, I have sprayed wd40 on spring top and bottom, damper rubbers, anti roll bar bushes and links etc.

It's a 2005 jimny with 28000miles on the clock
Any Idears guys, could it be an early sign of king pin bearings perhaps?

Steve.

It is always tricky to diagnose such noises via the interweb as it could be one of many things.

Usually if the Kingpins are gone they cause play and for the axle tube oil seal to leak and the diff oil comes out the swivels.

This is not so say the Kingpin bearings are not dry and in need of a grease.

Might pay to whip it apart and have a look see.

Kirkynut

Right o, so I'll be able to whip the bearings out and grease them up ten?

I'd did mine yesterday (replaced them) only the second time I've done it using the how too guide on here and took about 2 and half hours, with a bit of a break inbetween but mine included lots of cleaning as they were shot and filling of oily muddy crap.

Highly recommend lubing everything up and taking it for a drive first as it made everything a lot easier to undo as the first time I didnt and it took bloody ages!

I had a thought about this early whilst on the loo - which is where most of my best thoughts occur - so bear with me!

Tighten up the front radius arm bush bolts - just nip them up a bit - don't go mad hanging off a breaker bar or anything!

If they have been on the car since time began the bolts could be welded by rust to the bush's tubes and the nut could be welded by rust to the bolt, so don;t go made on the tightening as the bolt could sheer, the nut or bolt could strip their threads - or it might just nip up a little.

The tube in the bush could be moving slightly and rubbing on the inside of the radius arm brackets on the axle or chassis casuing the creaking noise you describe.

I had thison the rear of mine whenever it took up drive and nipping up the bolts stopped it. I have repolaced all my bolts and take them out every now and then and re-grease them - or have to replace the bushes due to heavy offroading killing them!

Kirkynut