Creaking from Front Drivers side wheel.. help please

[dougie212]

Hi there...

My first post here so please go easy....

I have just purchased a 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.0TD. It is my pride and joy, but....

Since getting it home, it has developed an almight creaking noise when I steer. The creak comes from the drivers side front wheel area. I have spoken to the chap I bought it off and he tells me he was aware of the creak, but when they fitted a new spring to that side, the creak went. I found it hard to believe but hey ho... The chap told me the creak is a dry bush on the lower control arm, and a bit of wd40 will sort it out.

Suffice to say, Im not going to just squirt wd40 on it to try and disguise the creak, i want to cure it. Can anyone tell me if the lower control arm replacement is a diy job or does it need special tools? Are there any parts suppliers or breaker people trust on here to get maybe a new one at a good price or a used one with good bushes to have put on.

Many thanks for all your help in advance

Duncan

[turbo-tom]

might be just warn bushes? , your on the right track about not spraying wd40 on it..

depends really how handy are you with the spanners?

[dougie212]

Im ok with the spanners.. If there is a guide to follow or some sort of instruction.

I was told that I can get the bushes seperate from the control arm, but did wonder if this was truthful or not.

If it is just the worn bushes and they can be changed, is there any special tools needed?

Thanks for such a fast response.

Duncan

[turbo-tom]

I'm not sure if there is a guide but im sure a quick google search will clear that up.

Same again i'm not sure if you can seperate them if you do there will probably need to be pressed in with a big press etc thats the only special tool id say i havent had much experience with vit's I presume its all nuts and bolts but might be the od Torx bolts maybe jack the car up and have a look underneath then you can decide if you wish to do the task or not.

[Darrell]

If it's the lower control arm and it squeaks when turning it's more likely the ball joint knackered.
The bushes would squeak when the suspension is compressed.
Personally I would spray WD40 on the ball joint and make sure that the squeak goes then at least you know you have found exactly the faulty part. Keep spraying one part at a time to find the location. (the ball joint should have a rubber cover though).
Then I would buy a replacement. They are about £100 on fleebay.
The bushes can be replaced, but the ball joint is part of the arm.
Looking at it, I would think you would need a spring compressor and ball joint splitter but nothing else special.
If you do decide to replace it, let me know and I will see if I can rob that section from a workshop manual.

[turbo-tom]

See darrell knows his stuff listen to him not me!

[Darrell]

Probably not

Could be the bushes.
I just thought they would squeak when the suspension moves not just turning.
Hell, what do I know

[Darrell]

Anyway , welcome to the club .

When you find what bit is squeaking, we can tell you how to replace it

[dougie212]

Thanks so much both!!... This place is so helpful!!!

I do get a creak when steering and going over speed humps...... Someone had suggested the ball joint.. Could you just identify what part number on the diagram above the ball joint is please.... I must be honest, I havent pulled any rubber covers off or slid them out of the way, so I may not have looked at the ball joint...

Thanks
Duncan

[turbo-tom]

normally the lower ball joint is covered by a dust boot these perish and normally fall off however its near part 18 (part 18 is the dust cover/seal set) , anyway you see the thread above it before it goes into the wish bone well inside the wish bone is the actually ball joint its sort of built all into one if that makes sence

it will sort of look like this in the picture the black thing in the middle of the wish bone and hub is the dust cover/seal in there is the ball joint , dont worry no oil will fall out or anything so remove any clips holding the cover off and you shall see the ball joint in there