Loud front end creak

I have a loud creak coming from my front end when I hit a large dip or bump, especially while turning. Can hear it coming from both sides separately and sometimes both at once. It’s inconsistent, it’ll sound terrible on one speed bump but dead silent on the next. Sounds like a dry bushing somewhere but I’ve been under the truck with penetrating lube soaking everything I can think of and nothing helps. Every mechanic I’ve visited acknowledges that it sounds bad but can’t pinpoint the source. Everything in the front end is tight and in good shape and the truck feels great on and off-road, except for this creak. Hoping someone else had this issue and figured it out, it’s driving me crazy! Here’s a clip of the noise: https://youtu.be/uzAwHaL3PMc

 

A sound clip would help!

 

radiator support bushings?

 

Make sure your skid plate is fastened completely.

 

Here’s a clip of the sound, couldn’t figure out how to upload last night

https://youtu.be/uzAwHaL3PMc

 

Sway Bar.

 

That was my first thought but no improvement after spraying the bushings with penetrating lube, end links are also tight and well greased. Is there another greasable spot I’m not thinking of?

 

That was the culprit for a mystery rattle a couple years back but it’s all tight this time around

 

2nd checking radiator support bushings.

 

Copy that, I’ll spray those and see if there’s any improvement

 

Also worth noting that the noise goes away after a long drive in wet weather And comes back when it dries out.

 

From the sound of it, I'd say it's probably a bushing that's dried out and needs to be replaced. It's good that you've already checked everything and soaked it in penetrating lube. It's possible that you missed the culprit, though. Did you check the sway bar bushings and links? Those are common causes of creaking noises like that.

It's interesting that the sound goes away after a long drive in wet weather. That could mean that there's a slight bit of moisture that's helping to lubricate the bushing and quiet the noise. That would support the theory that it's a dried-out bushing that needs to be replaced.

 

Did you have an alignment done recently?
Check your LCA cam bolts.

 

LCA cam bolts are tight. Did have an alignment recently but the noise has been getting steadily worse through 2 separate alignments now.

 

Definitely sounds like dry bushings, both sides started making the sound at exactly the same time though which seems unusual. Sway bar bushings and links are all good and lubricated. If, say, my LCA bushings were going bad wouldn’t I feel a clunk or something too? The creak is super loud in person but doesn’t effect the steering feel or ride quality

 

Radiator support bushings are tight and look undamaged, sprayed them and didn’t make a difference

 

If you can move the sway bar side to side the bushings are worn out. There is a ring each side on the bar it's self that keeps it in place when the bushing ware it allows the ring to connect with the sway bar bracket.

 

I am going to bet its the rack and pinon or inner and outer tie rods. If not all three items.

 

I recently swapped to new coilovers/shocks and the infamous “click” sound is gone when rolling over speed bumps, etc.

It’s the bottom front shock bushing. And the cause “seems” to be the bolt. It doesn’t offer complete support with its shoulder. Check @tonered ’s build thread. Post#280 or something like that.

In your case, the bushings are past their “tool-life.” It’s time to swap out the lower shock bushings, and stop spraying.

 

This sounds promising, the lower shock bushings are centered and don’t have play but I’ll remove the shocks and take a closer look