Slight creaking noise when braking, turning

[Ostobs]

Just recently got my first car, a 97 T-Bird with 71K miles. Generally runs great, but has a few minor quirks. But those aren't important at the moment.

Two days ago I was driving and I noticed that I was hearing random creaking sounds, (like a whining creak, almost like one of the shocks were bad) This was the first I had heard it, and I couldn't manage to repeat it, so I ignored it as it being cold or a pebble or something.

Later I got in the car again, and I heard it more frequently. I fiddled around for a few, and realized that the sound happens when I am braking, and turning the wheel to the right (just about every single time.) or, to the left (slightly less often but still enough.) Sometimes just a plain turn will give a slight creak, plain being no brakes, and on occasion I hear it when I am braking, however, I do need an alignment at the moment, so I generally hold the wheel just a little to the right to keep the car straight.

My best guess would be a caliber, shocks, or a CV joint, but I could tell you in 5 minutes everything I know about cars, so I was hoping someone with a bit more knowledge would weigh in on my problem.

Thanks!

 

[davidkihano]

My sons 1995 lx had a similar issue. I tried to check it out but finally the ball joint came out of the lower control arm
at first I thought it might be the struts. bought a pair of complete lower control arms off eBay for less than 100 bucks
change the strut to frame bushings as long as you have them out

 

[Richard]

Funny but my 97 third which I just bought for 500 bucks just started that same noise

 

[1955moose]

Creaking sounds when turning are usually caused by worn or dry bushings, either rubber, or metal. Your car is rear wheel drive, and does not have c/v shafts. It has a drive shaft that comes off transmission and connects to rear differential. My best advice since your a new driver and mechanic, is to bring your t bird to a alignment shop, let them diagnose your worn parts. Then depending on you mechanical ability, you can repair some or all of the problems. One more thing, if it was a brake caliper problem, you would hear your noise when applying brakes. Good luck, keep us posted.

 

[Ostobs]

I actually took it in for an oil change around the start of December, and asked them to take a look. Turned out it was a ball joint and control arm rusted, and needed replaced. Mechanic told me the three stages were good, bad, and tow truck, and I was on bad. I had the work done the next week, no problems since.

Funnily enough, I'd had a problem of the car veering to the left a tad on a hard break, and it doesn't anymore. Thanks for the replies, and hopefully this will help someone sometime!