Hello all this is my first post here...i was trying to p[ost earlier but i couldnt
1 week ago:
1999 93 conv. So 1 week ago i had the right strut mount replaced due to the strut bearing failure at my local Saab specialist. Suspension felt really good after the service while driving from shop to work and then from work home doing about 60 miles total. The next day i notice some creaking on the right strut during slow maneuvers. It was like 1-2 creaks while accelerating and maybe 2-3 while turning more noticeable when turning left and putting weight load on the right strut. So i went back to the shop and ask them if they could take a look. They did and said that they cleaned the mount and apply some more lube and everything seemed to be fine. After two days of enjoyable driving in dry conditions we got some heavy rain today. Almost right after the car got wet the creaking came back but maybe slightly less noticeable than before. So at this point before going back to the shop for the second time or looking for a different mechanic i would like to ask for some suggestions.
1. Is light creaking somehow expected after putting in a new strut mount until parts get settled down or something? Maybe a couple of weeks of driving will solve the issue.
2. Could it be that they put in some not so good aftermarket mount?
3. Could it indicate that they used old support bearing or spring disk that don't fit well with the new mount.
4. any other suggestions?
Today:
I didnt go back to the shop yet but did some more investigating and what is happening goes like this:
Creaking is easily replicable when the car is in park and i turn wheels slowly from left to right and back..every time wheels get closer to fully turned position then the most apparent creaking (1-3 creaks) noise is happening on the front right around the strut mount (the new one)...i was able to get another person in the car and look at the mount and the strut while the wheels were turning...
it looks like the spring was kinda popping more precisely the upper part of it right when the creaking was created ..so i am guessing something is happening either on the upper spring seat or inside the mount housing and it is just being picked by the spring..maybe the trust bearing..i wasnt able to feel any clicking on the dumper rod or the top mounting...
so now i am thinking could it be(from top):
-strut upper nut (maybe too tight)
-cupped washer (nothing really to creak)
-top mounting (only if the thrust bearing is not ok..i guess..woudl it creak?)
-thrust bearing(not really sure how this could go wrong when putting in a new part)
-washer (suppose to be placed with its part number facing down - maybe this didnt happen..but would it creak)
-buffer (could it be on upside down?)
-the upper spring seat (fresh rubber..but this should be not happening with a new part..i would think)
i was able to feel with my fingers the end of the spring and it was placed on the seat end stop so i am guessing it fits ok...i also notice that on the left strut (the old one that doesnt make any noises) the spring seat end stop is towards the front but the end stop on the right is towards rear...is it normal or something got flipped over?
for now i just applied some heavy duty grease on the sprint seat and that killed the creaks but after car gets wet in the rain it will probably come back...
also do you think that using spring compressor i could compress the spring still on the car and have a better look on that seat..i didnt try it yet but it looks like i could only grab first and second coils (?)..there is just not enough room for the tool..would it be enough to bring it down so i could see the spring seat from underneath?
anyone suggestions...please