2017 Trd Pro loud creaking sound

Hello all. I have been chasing a creaking sound for a few weeks now and after reading many posts I still have not figured out where it is coming from. I have a loud creak from my front end anytime I turn my wheels at any speed. At first I thought it was the trd pro skid but after removing that the creak is still there. My only thought is either the trd bilstein suspension started creaking or maybe upper or lower ball joint? I checked the bolts on the cross member, sway bar, endlinks, top of shock mount. Its driving me crazy man! I uploaded a video of my phone recording on the dash inside my truck and also inside my engine bay. I drove around a parking lot turning the wheels to show the noises. If you have time watch through both videos to get an idea. Any help is appreciated.

https://youtu.be/_1SGCbZBORE

https://youtube.com/shorts/bs4pZr72uC4?feature=share

 

kind of sounds like the steering rack to me. What size tires you running?

 

No I was driving around a parking lot going around 15mph. But the creaking can occur at faster speeds if I turn the steering wheel quickly.

I am running 33” tires. Don’t know how the rack could make that type of sound though.

 

Questions:

1: Does the vehicle have to be moving forward to produce the noise???

2: Does the suspension need to be articulating while the steering wheel is being turned for the noise to occur, or is it happening when you simply turn the wheel regardless of the flex or lack thereof in the suspension???

 

Sounds like it could be the skid plate. I had a similar issue when I added the TRD Pro skid plate to my 2014. I had to go back and insert rubber spacers on all the mounting bolts where the plate makes contact with the frame.
There are posts on here about the issue.

 

One of the skid plates might not be torqued down correctly. Sometimes nylon or rubber washers are put on to do away with that noise? Best of luck!

 

One of the joints is creaking. If it only happens when turning, then tie rod ends, upper or lower ball joints and shock or top hats. It’s sounds like a dry, creaking joint.

 

Does it make the sound even when not turning but as you come to an abrupt stop or takeoff and the weight shifts front or back? I have a similar noise that occurs under those scenarios and some low speed parking lot/driveway maneuvering. I even replaced my steering rack bushings and coilovers trying to fix it but no dice. It’s also not my sway bar bushings or skid plate. I’m thinking it’s either the upper or lower control arm bushings at this point.

 

Thanks but I stated in the post I removed the skid plate and the noise was still there. That’s what I thought the noise was at first as well.

 

It only happens when turning or hitting a speed bump. But I can get the noise to occur every single time I turn, talk about annoying.

 

Honestly sounds like ball joints then

 

I had someone bounce my truck side to side and the noise was slightly there but not as significant when I drive and turn.

No noise if truck is stationary and wheel is turned. The truck needs to be moving and once I turn the wheel the noise will prevent itself. The sharper the turn the easier it is for the noise to be heard. Best way to describe is a loud creak.

 

LCA ball joints? I know those are replaceable but are the top UCA joints? Also my truck has 150k miles and I’m on all original suspension components.

 

All the ball joints are replaceable.

 

Would it be safe to spray some lithium grease around the lower joints?

 

Yes, but may not be an effective method to figure out if they are bad. The joint surface that needs lube is inside the boot.

 

Took the truck for a drive and it creaks when driving straight and hitting an uneven or bumpy road (no turning of steering wheel). Literally sounds like my truck is falling apart, and it seems to be getting worse. So the noise is present driving straight during articulation or turning of steering wheel at speeds.

 

Ball joints could explain all those things

 

Sounds similar to mine honestly. Does yours do it in 4x4? That’s one thing I haven’t really checked, I was thinking along the lines of bad needle bearing in the front diff which I’m supposed to take care of shortly with the ECGS bushing.

 

Really I didn’t think ball joints could creak like that. I would imagine the bushings would do it or the shock/spring.

 

Haven’t even checked in 4x4 as the noise is when I’m daily driving. I know it has something to do with the front suspension just trying to narrow it down.

 

I also thought bushings which is why I went steering rack.

 

Well I guess you can’t buy OEM bushing alone, only the entire LCA assembly..