Quick question about an issue...

[jacktesterson]

May I ask for some help? I'm curious.

Look at the picture below. 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor front right wheel.

I took the SUV for a ride for the first time in quite some time as my wife drives it. I immediately noticed front end noise (like a metal creaking) coming out when turning left and in motion. It only does it turning left in motion. It's not a wheel bearing sound, I've heard that many times in my life and this is different. Also, the wheel bearings on it now are newer. 10-15k miles on them at most.

Also - the vehicle is making some noise from the same time when going over bumps. I was actually thinking it was a strut mount.... but then I saw the below in the pic.



I believe that's a Sway Bar link and I don't think that looks right behind that nut. Can anyone chime in as I'm obviously not a mechanic. (I'm a developer lol).

This vehicle was inspected in May and I'm pretty sure this was replaced at that time.

 

[satyajitmenon]

Maybe take a video from inside the car while driving?

Does it sound like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0evGYOpEXGw

Can't really see from this angle, but is that a collapsed ball joint?

 

[jacktesterson]

Yes. Wow. You can tell I’m awful at this

Now that you said that... yes that is it. Ball joint.

 

[jlee]

That is a sway bar end link. If you shake it, does it move at all? Even a small amount of play can make noise.

There should be a washer under that nut, btw. It was likely originally a flange nut, but someone used an ordinary nut without a washer (you can see the clean metal area where a flange nut or washer would be).

 

[bruceb]

That piece is definitely bad and needs to be replaced. And I agree with Jlee ... that needs a Flanged Type of nut

 

[jlee]

That piece is definitely bad and needs to be replaced. And I agree with Jlee ... that needs a Flanged Type of nut

It's hard to tell by looking at it - the boot is likely crooked because of where the sway bar is right now. It doesn't appear cracked, but it's hard to tell if that nut is tight.

 

[mindless1]

It is hard to tell from the pic whether the sway bar link top nut is tight enough or if there is play, but nothing looks wrong with it besides lacking a flange nut or washer as already mentioned.

I would sooner suspect you have a bad left lower ball joint. Jack it up, grab the tire at 12 and 6 o'clock and see if it wiggles. If so, take the tire off, do the same to the hub to confirm it's the joint, not wheel bearing. Check both sides, they're around the same age?

 

[Pulsar]

May very well be the piece of rubber in the strut mount has failed. Do you drive on dirt roads? That does 'em in pretty fast, and they'll start failing by making noise on turns and bumps.

 

[JCH13]

It's hard to tell by looking at it - the boot is likely crooked because of where the sway bar is right now. It doesn't appear cracked, but it's hard to tell if that nut is tight.

This. The link itself looks fine, it's quite normal to find them a little skewed about like that in my experience, especially if the steering is moved around to get a picture like that. The nut situation is somewhat concerning as described above.

I'd lean towards a sway bar bushing given the symptoms as described, assuming that sway bar link nut is tight.

 

[WackyDan]

Usually when it is sway bar links they make a clunking noise... Least on our GM.