Creaking and popping while turning at low speed?

Manual Transmission · 11-23-2016, 02:34 PM

Over the last few weeks it's been getting cold in California(45-60F), which seems to be revealing issues in my suspension. About a week ago on a cold slightly cold night I noticed that the car creaked when making sharp turns at parking lot speed. It doesn't seem to matter which way I'm turning, and seems to come from the front slightly right, but I could be wrong about that. It's been doing this since. This morning was even colder and when turning out of my parking space the car creaked then for the first time popped a few times during the turn. I suspect it would behave similarly if I turned at higher speeds, but it wouldn't be safe to make such sharp turns at over 10MPH. The car otherwise drives perfectly still. Handling and stability are unaffected so far. I'll try to get a video later today.

Any idea what might be causing a creaking and popping noise when turning and would be made worse by the cold?

Manual Transmission · 11-23-2016, 04:34 PM

I finally got the chance to drive it a second time today. It was about 70F out, and the car only creaked, no popping. I'm about to leave on a 6 hour trip which should give me ample time to see if anything in the car handling has changed.

thakid22 · 11-23-2016, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manual Transmission

I finally got the chance to drive it a second time today. It was about 70F out, and the car only creaked, no popping. I'm about to leave on a 6 hour trip which should give me ample time to see if anything in the car handling has changed.

Creaking and popping can be minor...
Or, it can be major!

You DO NOT want to find out which yours is on a 6 hour trip away from home.
Rent or borrow a car for your trip.

If a suspension part breaks while you are on the road, you will have only compounded your troubles. You may very well make it to your destination and back home without incident...
Or maybe you won't. You don't know what's wrong with the car, so you can't accurately gauge the risk.

Don't start a trend/habit of putting your car on the road in this condition. Do it frequently enough and you will get bitten!

In the meantime, take some videos of the noise and post them up here. We'll help figure out what the noise is.

If you absolutely must drive the car on the trip, at least remove the wheels and give the front end a visual inspection.

max_330i · 11-23-2016, 06:23 PM

Any chance the creaking/popping seems to be coming from PS pump? My car is not shy about complaining when I turn the wheel too far on a cold morning. It hasn't caused me any grief yet but I'm sure the pump will give out one day.

ef11 · 11-23-2016, 07:35 PM

My car has been creaking and popping for a few thousand miles now, I know my front shocks have no more fluid left in them so it is bottoming out. Planning on replacing them very soon.

klipse · 11-23-2016, 08:01 PM

My A4 did this also. Funny thing, the loaner I got from the dealer did the same thing.

WreckerX5d · 11-23-2016, 08:06 PM

Most likely your upper strut mount bushings becoming worn. Popping sounds will most likely relate to a tie rod.

Manual Transmission · 11-24-2016, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thakid22

Creaking and popping can be minor...
Or, it can be major!

You DO NOT want to find out which yours is on a 6 hour trip away from home.
Rent or borrow a car for your trip.

If a suspension part breaks while you are on the road, you will have only compounded your troubles. You may very well make it to your destination and back home without incident...
Or maybe you won't. You don't know what's wrong with the car, so you can't accurately gauge the risk.

Don't start a trend/habit of putting your car on the road in this condition. Do it frequently enough and you will get bitten!

In the meantime, take some videos of the noise and post them up here. We'll help figure out what the noise is.

If you absolutely must drive the car on the trip, at least remove the wheels and give the front end a visual inspection.

Unfortunately your warning reached me too late, but fortunately the drive went fine and the car drove great. Tomorrow or Friday I'll be taking jacking up the car and inspecting it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by max_330i

Any chance the creaking/popping seems to be coming from PS pump? My car is not shy about complaining when I turn the wheel too far on a cold morning. It hasn't caused me any grief yet but I'm sure the pump will give out one day.

I've neaver heard anything but hissing noises from PS pumps, but I wouldn't rule it out. When I bought the car a few months ago the PS fluid was new which raised an eyebrow, but wasn't enough to make me doubt the car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by klipse

My A4 did this also. Funny thing, the loaner I got from the dealer did the same thing.

My Allroad used to groan really loud too. I never cared about that car enough to fix anything on it though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrecker335d

Most likely your upper strut mount bushings becoming worn. Popping sounds will most likely relate to a tie rod.

I just watched this video and the popping noise sounds pretty similar. Before embarking on my 6 hour drive I actually noted that the right upper strut mount bushing was torn, but didn't know what it was/did exactly. I think you probably are spot on. I also took some pictures of the bushing.

View post on imgur.com

11-23-2016, 02:34 PM	#1
Manual Transmission Private First Class 30 Rep 158 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Creaking and popping while turning at low speed? Over the last few weeks it's been getting cold in California(45-60F), which seems to be revealing issues in my suspension. About a week ago on a cold slightly cold night I noticed that the car creaked when making sharp turns at parking lot speed. It doesn't seem to matter which way I'm turning, and seems to come from the front slightly right, but I could be wrong about that. It's been doing this since. This morning was even colder and when turning out of my parking space the car creaked then for the first time popped a few times during the turn. I suspect it would behave similarly if I turned at higher speeds, but it wouldn't be safe to make such sharp turns at over 10MPH. The car otherwise drives perfectly still. Handling and stability are unaffected so far. I'll try to get a video later today. Any idea what might be causing a creaking and popping noise when turning and would be made worse by the cold? Last edited by Manual Transmission; 11-23-2016 at 02:43 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

11-23-2016, 04:34 PM	#2
Manual Transmission Private First Class 30 Rep 158 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: California iTrader: (0)	I finally got the chance to drive it a second time today. It was about 70F out, and the car only creaked, no popping. I'm about to leave on a 6 hour trip which should give me ample time to see if anything in the car handling has changed.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-23-2016, 06:23 PM	#4
max_330i Captain 340 Rep 922 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	Any chance the creaking/popping seems to be coming from PS pump? My car is not shy about complaining when I turn the wheel too far on a cold morning. It hasn't caused me any grief yet but I'm sure the pump will give out one day. __________________ 2006 330i 6MT Jet Black / Black
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-23-2016, 07:35 PM	#5
ef11 Captain 50 Rep 609 Posts Drives: 2009 335i Sedan M-Sport Join Date: May 2012 Location: Tyler, Texas iTrader: (0)	My car has been creaking and popping for a few thousand miles now, I know my front shocks have no more fluid left in them so it is bottoming out. Planning on replacing them very soon.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-23-2016, 08:01 PM	#6
klipse Banned 37 Rep 134 Posts Drives: 09 E93 335i Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: usa iTrader: (0)	My A4 did this also. Funny thing, the loaner I got from the dealer did the same thing.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-23-2016, 08:06 PM	#7
WreckerX5d Warrant Officer 375 Rep 1,341 Posts Drives: Deezul Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (4)	Most likely your upper strut mount bushings becoming worn. Popping sounds will most likely relate to a tie rod. __________________ Deleted, ATM I/C and tuned by B.R.R.
	Appreciate 0 Quote