Stang making a creaking sound..HELP!!!

[YellowCobra28]

All I know is that I never hit any potholes. My car is aligned just fine. But when I turn the steering wheel to the right whether in motion or when the car is running and idle, I get this creaking noise and it sounds like the front, like a rusty tie rod or something. Has anyone had this problem before? My Cobra is still under warranty, but I don't want anyone at Ford's touching my car. Any ventures what it may be, and how to remedy the situation?

 

[Tom's_03SVT]

there is a TSB on this. take it to the dealer if you are still under warranty and they will replace the rack bushings.

 

[YellowCobra28]

there is a TSB on this. take it to the dealer if you are still under warranty and they will replace the rack bushings.

Thanks bud, yeah I should have done a search first, but figured I was the only one with this problem. I guess not. Off to the dealer I go. I don't think they could mess up a simple steering rack bushing replacement, or could they?! :cuss:

 

[04CobraMatt]

Thanks bud, yeah I should have done a search first, but figured I was the only one with this problem. I guess not. Off to the dealer I go. I don't think they could mess up a simple steering rack bushing replacement, or could they?! :cuss:

If your lowered get off-set bushings.

 

[exdeath]

Hmm I have that same thing on my coupe but it's when I turn the wheel left. It creaks almost like the sound of a torque wrench every quarter turn of the wheel or so to the left, in all weather. No sound to the right, and 'resets' and creaks again going left. Nothing I've been terribly concerned about being that these are muscle cars and not Cadillacs, but if it's just a few bucks and an hour or two, might as well get rid of it next time it's up in the air.

So... just rack bushings huh? I'm not experienced with troubleshooting suspension/steering noises. Whats a good after market replacement?

 

[grimreefer]

Hmm I have that same thing on my coupe but it's when I turn the wheel left. It creaks almost like the sound of a torque wrench every quarter turn of the wheel or so to the left, in all weather. No sound to the right, and 'resets' and creaks again going left. Nothing I've been terribly concerned about being that these are muscle cars and not Cadillacs, but if it's just a few bucks and an hour or two, might as well get rid of it next time it's up in the air.

So... just rack bushings huh? I'm not experienced with troubleshooting suspension/steering noises. Whats a good after market replacement?

I have a creak in the steering so I'm planning to do this the next time I'm home. $40 for the MMST-7 Upgrade Kit.

Replaced steering gear/rack bushings thread / MMST-7 Installation

Look up part # MMST-7 on the Maximum Motorsports website

TSB Info

 

[exdeath]

I have a creak in the steering so I'm planning to do this the next time I'm home. $40 for the MMST-7 Upgrade Kit.

Replaced steering gear/rack bushings thread / MMST-7 Installation

Look up part # MMST-7 on the Maximum Motorsports website

TSB Info

And if one were planning on a tubular K in the future, is there a place to get new rack sleeves after cutting them for the stock K?

edit: E5DZ-3K620-A is the part number to the sleeves that must be cut to install MMST-7 bushing kit, like $5 from the dealer from what I can see

 

[ShelbyGuy]

I strongly disagree. only raise the rack if you've raised the lower control arm inner mounting point.

the bump steer gauge doesn't lie.

If your lowered get off-set bushings.

 

[ShelbyGuy]

have a friend turn the wheel back and forth while you stand near the wheel opening and listen for the noise.

if it is coming from down below, its the rack bushings. if the noise is coming from up top, its the upper strut mount bushing.

Hmm I have that same thing on my coupe but it's when I turn the wheel left. It creaks almost like the sound of a torque wrench every quarter turn of the wheel or so to the left, in all weather. No sound to the right, and 'resets' and creaks again going left. Nothing I've been terribly concerned about being that these are muscle cars and not Cadillacs, but if it's just a few bucks and an hour or two, might as well get rid of it next time it's up in the air.

So... just rack bushings huh? I'm not experienced with troubleshooting suspension/steering noises. Whats a good after market replacement?

 

[T.O.Snake]

Guys talk about this creak when they turn the wheel. Does anyone get a creak when they drive over pavement irregularities? I just want to be sure this symptom is also likely caused by steering rack bushings, before I take the effort to replace them.

 

[exdeath]

It's definitely only when turning the wheel for me (to the left for me) and the sound comes from the right. It's a very distinct creak/tick sound that sounds like a torque wrench breaking loose or a bolt sliding in and out on its threads, etc. Knowing what it is now, I can picture exactly what is going on with the binding and twisting and thats exactly what it sounds like, binding stress being relieved.

I've been ignoring it, attributing it to the normal creaks and rattles of these kinds of cars. But after reading about it here and realizing that it's only in one direction, if it's only $25 or so and about 30 mins of work, might as well take care of it.

So now I'm curious about everyone else, does the creak occur in the wheel opposite of the direction you are turning? Creak from left wheel when turning right or right wheel when turning left?

 

[sd04cobra]

I believe my cobra has a similar "creak" and was thinking that lubricating the tie-rod ends might be the fix. Looking at the SVT pamphlet, it mentions lubricating these every 1500 miles if i recall correctly. Funny thing is they list ESA-M1C92-A as the proper grease, and nobody seems to have it. Who sells this or what is the appropriate substitute (ESA-M1C75-B)?

 

[jm@ReischePerf]

was thinking that lubricating the tie-rod ends might be the fix.

I think that's unlikely. The creak is usually caused by one of the 2 things ShelbyGuy already stated.

 

[Chris@BAP]

yup get the TSB done and you will have no more Creeking

 

[724COBRA]

Mine was creeking an i used the MM aluminum steering rack bushings and i love them. Great upgrade IMO

 

[wheelhopper]

Mine was creeking an i used the MM aluminum steering rack bushings and i love them. Great upgrade IMO

+1

I had the TSB done, which did cure the problem. Later I installed the MM aluminum steering rack bushings. No squeeks and a much tighter feel. Just do this. $40 and 40 minutes later, problem solved.

 

[Nicky Pass]

I had the TSB done as a precaution. I have a friend the used to work at a Dord dealer.

 

[T.O.Snake]

Sorry guys, once again I've gotta ask if I'm getting a persistent creak when simply driving over road irregularities (even quite small ones), is it going to be the steering rack bushings? It's driving me nuts - makes the car sound so cheap. I cringe when I'm out for a drive and pass people on the sidewalk, figuring they'll think what's wrong with that car? :nonono:

 

[Trick Pony]

And if one were planning on a tubular K in the future, is there a place to get new rack sleeves after cutting them for the stock K?

edit: E5DZ-3K620-A is the part number to the sleeves that must be cut to install MMST-7 bushing kit, like $5 from the dealer from what I can see

I believe the sleeves are built into the aftermarket K-members, at least that's how I remember my MM K-member being so whether you cut them now should have no bearing on getting an aftermarket K.

 

[T.O.Snake]

Sorry guys, once again I've gotta ask if I'm getting a persistent creak when simply driving over road irregularities (even quite small ones), is it going to be the steering rack bushings? It's driving me nuts - makes the car sound so cheap. I cringe when I'm out for a drive and pass people on the sidewalk, figuring they'll think what's wrong with that car? :nonono:

Sorry for bumping my own post, but I've really got to get an answer on this.

I was debating taking the car in and trying the TSB route on the steering rack bushings to see if that clears it up. Then if it does, I could swap to the MM aluminum ones once mine start creaking again.

But does anyone know with decent certainty that that's likely what's happening in my situation? :shrug: