Hi all,

Lately my 87 244 has been exhibited the following symptoms:

Lots of loud creaking from the front end...while turning or going over small bumps or into driveways.

Also, concurrent with this, the steering has felt extremely lose...requiring little effort to turn the wheel.

Approximatley 18 months ago, car got new suspension bushings all around, new Boge Turbo Gas shocks and IDP bars.

Any ideas what to look for?

Thanks,

Mike

Gee, i would have guessed Bushings. Did you put any grease on th bushings prior to putting the bolts back through them? I, don't know whre you live but with the weather getting colder by me, they could be contracted enough to give you squeaks in the winter.

Tony,

Bushing were done bymy trusted mechanic. I know he did everything as he should..he always does. I'm in Southern California...It really doesn;t get that cold here. Also, get the same creaking hot or cold.

Would worn steering rack/inner tie rods cause this possibly?

Rack, tierods...I wouldn't think so.

If you bounce the front of the car by pushing on the fender do you get the creaking? Sorry but I'm still leaning toward lack of grease on the shafts that pass through all these bushings. Not putting grease on the inner diameter of the bushings is not considered wrong BUT doing it is a much 'nicer' job.

It's analogous to lightly sanding and greasing the rods on your brakes, it's not mandatory but it makes for a 'clean' job.

Bounce the question off your wrencher, he may not have done it. On the short term, slide under there and WD-40 all these bushings and see if it quiets them down.

California!? So I guess it wasn't 16 degrees this morning. I was almost thinking it was time to put the motorcycle away a few months as I rode it to work.

Tony,

Nope wasnt 16 degrees by me....altough it was a little chilly this am..maybe 50.

I'll have him check the bushings 1st. I totally understand what you mean by a "nicer" job".

Thanks for your quick response.

Mike

no problemo, on the responce time.

The bushings that caused me the squeak happen to be the easiest to take off and greese. They are the ones that attach to a bracket that mounts to the lower firewall. The tires can stay on the car nad everything. Get it on the lift, take off the three bolts (on each side) pull down on the 'arm and take off the large bolt, slip it out, grease, and put back. It's really not bad for him to do if he had to. I replaced mine in steps and as soon as I did these on both sides of the car the sqeaking went away. as I said these are the easiest to dislocate, grease and reinstall.