2009 Escalade with magnetic ride shocks. Left front suspension makes a near constant creaking sound, much like the stereotypical old bed sound. I stethoscoped and it's not sway bar or ball joints. It's definitely coming from the strut. I am going under the assumption that it is in the top hat mount or the spring seats, but could a shock make this sort of noise? They're $250 each and "feel" fine, so I'd rather not replace them unless necessary, but I also don't enjoy the thought of removing it, undoing the spring pressure, and rebuilding to find out it's the shock itself. Any experience with these trucks?
I would check the lower strut/shock bushing/sleeve first. Spray a good penetrating solvent to lubricate bushing and attempt to get it inside the sleeve.
Very unlikely to be the strut. Does the sway bar link connect to the strut, or the control arm? The ball sockets on those are pretty typical to creak.
Streetwiseguy wrote:
Very unlikely to be the strut. Does the sway bar link connect to the strut, or the control arm? The ball sockets on those are pretty typical to creak.
Control arm, and way away from the strut. With the stethoscope probe shoved up in between the coil spring it's obvious this is where the noise is coming from. Sway bar was my first thought until I actually crawled underneath.
I'd be shocked if its the shock.
Ball joint, turn plate, tie rod end. Remember noises travel and make you look like a fool...
I've done two sets of these shocks for this concern. For whatever reason, they can creak like Crown Vic ball joints.
Two notes:
Make VERY VERY VERY SURE that it is the shocks. They are "say WHAT?" expensive. If you were quoted $250 each then double check to make sure you're getting the right application. The last pair I did were $800 each.
When they say "do not use air tools", they MEAN it. The shaft is two piece. Unzip it with an impact, the clean threads in the middle will separate and the rusty threads on top that you WANTED to come loose will stay stuck. Now you have a nitrogen pressurized oil bomb on your hands until you thread the strut shaft back in.
