[TalkingPie]

My 2015 GS Hatch with 22k miles has recently started creaking at low speed. It happens mostly at parking lot speeds when pulling into or out of a parking space or driveway. The best way I can describe it is a creaking like being aboard an old ship; I wouldn't say it clunks. So far I haven't been able to tell whether it's coming from the front, rear, or both. It seems to happen independent of application of brake or throttle, and I notice it only when the car is rolling below about 20 MPH. Turning the steering from side to side while stationary doesn't produce the noise. I notice no symptoms when driving above about 20 MPH.

The car is stock except for a set of 18x8" RX-8 wheels, which I recently put back on for summer. I've rechecked the lug torque and all seems well.

Is this the infamous strut bearing issue? I'd really appreciate some direction of what I can check before I start tearing into things, and I'm definitely not interested in paying someone to shotgun parts at the problem. I know that the first owner of the car had a strut replaced under warranty before I took possession. Car's been fine until now.

 

[arathol]

Grease the sway bar bushings....

 

[TalkingPie]

Apologies, posted in the wrong section. Mod, please move to 2014-2018 Handling and Suspension.

Thanks for the suggestion of lubing the sway bar bushing. That would be far easier than greasing the strut bearings.

 

[arathol]

Could also be the springs. If the car doesn't have isolators on the spring ends that would make a similar sound. If lubing the sway bar doesn't work, spray some lube around the spring seats and see if it goes away. You might need to install the spring isolators to get rid of the sound permanently though.

 

[iansm76]

Mine has the same thing.. some times a light popping noise when turning left also. I have 75k miles on my 2014 3 right now. While doing front brakes, I plan on taking the struts out, compressing springs & putting spring isolators on and greasing the bearings.

 

[arathol]

A popping sound when turning could be a tie rod end. Seems to me there was a TSB on this for early 3rd gen cars.....

 

[mathieu9836]

Lift the car and grip the front coils, try to move the top end of the coil you will probably ear the clunk noise. It think there is a TSB about that issue.