Clicking & Creaking Noise when turning, braking, accelerating!!

hi guys

i keep hearing this painful creaking noise each time I turn the wheel. I think it mainly comes when I turn left, and it was also present last night when I braked and accelerated...

It's like a CLICK, CLICK, CLICKKK creaking noise - almost like some metal is being twisted and something's about to break!

what could this be and what sort of things should I be looking for?

pictures/videos/indepth descriptions/instructions are all welcome

Many thanks in advance

 

It may be worthwhile to add that this prius has previously been in a heavy collision (category C) in which the chassis was bent (behind the front driver-side wheel) and the lower part of the engine was pierced. So it was all probably taken apart and re-built/installed again.... and I don't think the workmanship on it has been very good, based on quite a few novice loose ends/errors that we've previously spotted.

 

thanks for that Steve

Would anybody else know how I can test if it is a faulty CV joint?

I've just watched a few videos on how to replace these, and it seems pretty straight forward - I just need a way to make sure it is exactly that...

I can get my hands on a jacking up tool aswell if needed

 

I did abit of DIY testing...

when turning the steering left/right - a clicking creeking noise comes out of the right side axle. I can't pinpoint the exact location just from the sound. The same sort of sound comes when you apply the brakes - again, only from the right side.

whilst i was there - i took photos of that whole area. I found that the rubber boot seemed to be in good condition...

I have a feeling, based on what I've read across the internet and seen on youtube - it quite possibly could be the CV joint - in which case, there may be a way to strip it all down, and re-furbish it, by flipping the inner core piece back-to-front.

Would a bad CV joint make creeking noises upon stand-still braking though? What else could it be? I mean, what else would have these symptoms?

 

my front right side wheel resembles these type of noises (in below videos)....It occurs at standstill, and when I apply the brakes:

Could it be to do with the ball joint?

 

thank you patsparks

okay - it may be worthwhile me taking a video of my one....

it is pretty similar to those 2 videos above. Upon being stationary - the car making that creaking noise if the wheel turns or if the brakes are applied

is there any tests that i can carry out in order to narrow it down?

i have put a car axle jack on order and so will soon be able to jack it up

cheers

 

I've just received my new car axle jack, and just awaiting my torque wrench..

Out of interest - what level of torque should be set on the wrench when tightening the nuts on the wheels of the Prius?

Thanks

 

Excellent - thanks John

I've been way too busy lately and so will get working on my car as soon as i get a moment

...need to get rid of that creaking noise as it really does sound quite scary at times - almost like something's about to break

anyway, i hope all else is well on the western front (or in your case, the northern front)

 

slightly digressing here but out of interest, would you know about sat nav systems?

I was thinking of picking up a cheap one off ebay for around 35 quid, but then I had a thought - how about buying a GPS receiver and somehow connecting it to the Prius in order to make use of its screen? Is there any way to make use of its screen and install a sat nav system onto it?

the thing is - I also wanted a sat nav system which comes with a live traffic feed of some sort so I could avoid traffic jams etc...I know a model by Garmin (2455LMT) provides this for free - TomTom charge a subscription for this service.

thoughts welcome on this...

its not a major project but something i wouldnt mind having - especially with all the tight roads, traffic, speed cameras etc that are in London!!

thanks

 

hmmm - yeh - good point

I'm just looking for a unit which comes with a Traffic Receiver functionality (TMC i think) - and on Ebay, they look pretty well priced but didn't want to really go over £50 - so let's see. China offer many models, but do not know about buying technology from China via ebay

the search continues...

 

i was driving through Prince Albert Bridge in Battersea just the other day and for some strange reason, it has narrow metal poles on each side that the car needs to go through. I got through okay but then it was followed up with a tight pavement which ended up hitting my front driver side wheel and damaged some of the alloy! I'm in a really bad mood about this because I'm unsure if the wheel has been damaged or alignment affected.....why would they make it so tight on the entry and exit of that bridge! Very annoying.

Should I be okay? I mean the car runs okay but I'm just concerned that the wack that it received from the pavement may have hurt it in some way...

I'll be jacking the car up very soon in order to check for where those creeking noises are coming from and so any other tests/checks that I can carry out will be more than welcome

thanks again