Upper Strut Bearings

[gearheadE30]

Lately, my car has been making excessive amounts of noise whenever the steering wheel is turned. The sound seems to be coming from the upper part of the front suspension. I doubt that control arm bushings are the cause, but I'm putting new ones in this weekend. The upper bearings on my car have been replaced at some point (I don't know whey, the originals are pretty bulletproof) and were run without the little plastic caps on top for an unknown and probably long amount of time. The car made no noise at first, and then only during the first few minutes of driving. Now that it is really cold out, the creaking is very loud, to the point where people standing around my car can here it. Any idea what the cause is?

[bmwpower]

Check your rack.  My original rack went bad and would make more noise in the cold.  Would bind too.  Do you feel something similar in steering wheel?

Steering joint (I think there is one)?

Have someone stand over the bearing in the morning as you turn the wheel.

[gearheadE30]

I actually checked the steering, because that is what I thought it was, too. It's fine in my car, though, except it needs new fluid.

Thanks for the tip, I have no clue why I didn't think to do that...

[pbgd3skier]

how's the steering coupler thingybobber?

[gearheadE30]

Perfect, the rubber is still pliable and solid. I think it was replaced at some point, because it looks too good to be original.

I now know for a fact that the upper bearings are the cause of the noise, and there is more niose coming from the poly CABs because I forgot to lubricate them. Oh well, it is all coming out when I put in new wheel bearings and upper bearings. Might do new control arms too, because the ones on the car are 4+ yrs old.