Hello, I have a 2001 Accord EX, 5 speed, 189,000. I recently replaced the front struts myself, I did the removal and install and had a shop switch out the struts/springs.

I put everything back together exactly as removed and now I have a "creaking" noise when ever I go over bumps, especially at lower speeds (or maybe I just don't hear it at higher speeds).

Any ideas on the culprit?

 

I posted previously about this because I had the same problem, although in a 92, but either the search function is still malfunctioning, or I am, so I repeat it here.

When you replaced the upper control arms, you probably tightened them to the car with the arms hanging down, right? This means that when the car is finally lowered to the ground, the wheels push up into the wheel well. So, even though the car is at it's normal position, the rubber bushings are already being stressed. Hitting a bump stresses the bushings even further, and this is when you hear the creak.

I found that it is necessary to take that stress off the bushings with the car at rest. Luckily, this is easy.

With the car sitting on the ground, turn the wheel fully to the left, then, through the space that is exposed, reach into the driver's side wheel well and loosen the two bolts that secure the upper control arm to the two large "eye-hooks" that, in turn, secure the arm to the car. (Again, these bolts are the ones that the arm rotates on, not the ones that poke up into the engine compartment under the hood.) Don't loosen them completely, of course, but loose enough so any twisting force on the rubber bushings is completely removed. Loosen both bolts first, then re-tighten both bolts.

Then turn the wheel fully to the right and do the same on the passenger side.

Doing this places the rubber bushings that "bridge" the upper control arms to the car in an unstressed, detent position as the car sits normally on the ground.

Good luck.

Please post if the above works for you. (Don't bother if it doesn't!)

 

Worked for me on another members car from your old post before..Thanks again for putting it in the forum...

WheelBrokerAng

 

OK I did what was posted and that did help the "creaking" noise, but I still have a quick higher pitch "rattle" noise (again at lower speeds or I just don't hear it at higher speeds or the radio is too loud).

Any ideas on that mutant rattle?