Creaking noise while turning
 

I'm at 55k miles and issues are popping up one after another. :bs:

The most recent problem is this constant creaking sound whenever I turn the steering wheel, and I can't pinpoint exactly where it's coming from. It's not from the steering wheel itself as far as I can tell.

Here's a video of me turning the steering wheel. You can hear the noise very well.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK9s7c5rmG4[/ame]

Any idea what this could be? Been told either bad top hat or something to do with the electric power steering by some people. (They haven't seen the video though.)

I hear a spring ringing in there. I would first look for a failed bearing under one of the top hats. Not the end of the world. Shit happens.

Yup, the sound seems to be coming from the spring... o.O
I don't know how to tell if it's actually the spring or an underlying problem like the bearing. Would you be able to tell by this video?

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgo596eF70I[/ame]

Please excuse my dirty mess of a car. It's been raining for weeks so I haven't bothered washing the car, let alone the wheel wells.:thumbdown:

The only thing that can go wrong with the spring is that it breaks. Also, now we know that you have aftermarket dampers. That's essential information. Your OP and complaining about low-mileage issues leads us to believe that you are discussing a stock system. The problem is up top for sure.

WD40, spray liberally on places..
Worked wonders on my shitty D2's

Pirate ship steering wheel sound is usually top hats.

Isn't there a TSB for this? I was told that struts fall under powertrain 60k warranty, so you might be OK as long as your dealership is cool with aftermarket parts.

were you able to figure out the problem?

I've already had the upper strut bearings replaced under warranty once, not long after I got my '13, and now they're starting to creak/pop/groan again at just over 60K miles... Time to see if the dealer will try to deny warranty coverage because I have aftermarket swaybars now...:rolleyes:

Does it happen at certain speeds only? While steering turned or while turning? While moving forward, or while backing?

Sent from a potato

Confirmed by dealership that it was top hats. Changed under warranty. 2 years later, same noises. Updated design didn't fix it.
Is it a durability concern? I'm thinking of putting some heavy duty grease if it is not a concern for longevity/wear/durability.

Sent from a potato

Yeah that’s really strange that even the updated part # become damaged after just 2 years.

Do you keep the dust covers attached to the top hat?

Dry steering (steering while not moving) could put stress on those bearings as well as your steering rack.

The top hat bearing is not only responsible for allowing the strut to spin but it also absorbs bumps hardcore that don’t get absorbed by the rubber.

FYI, I had a very similar issue recently and tried to chase it down. Eventually, I figured it was my coil overs needing some attention so I swapped the OEM setup back on and the creaking is still there. So I really started focusing on the steering setup instead. I sprayed WD-40 on the steering knuckle joint and like magic, the creaking went away (almost 100%).

I'm not really looking for a diagnosis - (I've replaced a few dozen of these over the past 35 years..lol) - just complaining that I have to do it in the first place. I think I'll wait until after winter though..

I have the exact same noise. Just louder.
I have ISC aftermarket coilovers. The noise only started a few months after I installed them.
I layed under the car and it seems to either be coming from the top of the left coilover or the steering rack.
I'm still struggling to find the source of the noise.
Have you managed to pinpoint it yet?

Found the source of my noise.
It was the end links.
Pulled the sleeve back and greases the balls of the end links.
Noise went away.

This was my first instinct when watching the video in post #1.
Sounded like the steering shaft u-joint getting annoyed

Mine is still not gone and I have another problem that seems related or coming from the same area. I swapped out my coilovers for the OEM and the noise was still there. I convinced myself that it was the steering rack that was groaning - inner rod ends or something in there so I got a new rack and swapped it. Before I hooked it to the tie rods and the suspension, I moved the ends like it was steering and the SAME DAMN NOISE was there!

So now I'm thinking there is something in the steering column itself that needs lubed Thoughts?

The new issue is a rattle, like something has come loose and continues to rattle louder over time. It sounds like it's in the front, possibly the dash, Every little bump in the road sets it rattling. It's a very metallic sound, like a loose bolt. The possibilities may be endless so I'm hoping someone else has experienced this and figured it out.

Thanks

Could be the rubber/plastic bit in the electric steering unit has fallen apart.

Electric Power Steering (EPS) noisy

Posts #60 and #66 get into an available Hyundai part that can be modified to fit.

edit; Oh! @ermax did a DIY on the whole thing!

FRS/BRZ EPS Motor Coupler Replacement (Rattle Fix)

Thanks for that link. I'll be really confused if the rattle turns out to be that problematic piece - there is no play in the steering at all. I don't get the rattling noise or reverb through the wheel; it sounds like it's coming from the dash or under the hood. But I'll still replace it to see if anything changes.

I forgot to mention that the groaning noise from the steering column goes away when the outside temps get below about 40 F. It gets worse the warmer it gets. I put a bunch of red grease on the u-joint today but the temps are in the 30s so I won't know if that helps until it gets warmer. I put some silicone grease on there when I replaced the rack but it didn't help at all.

That did the trick, after all. At least for the loose rattle piece of the pie. I still have the groaning when temps are above 50 or so. Today, after I did the star replacement, I also greased the interior steering universal joint, just for safe measure. While I was down there I saw the only remaining piece of the puzzle that might be the source of the groan - whatever is in the boot on the steering column where it goes through the firewall.