I checked the frame for cracks and don't see anything. I'm thinking it could be an engine or trans mount or something in the front suspension. It sounds like something on the passenger side.

 

Sway bar bushings?

 

Yep the sway bar bushing get nasty. Mine busted clean in two..

 

Same advice for the 10th gen? I swear I have the same noise. Thanks!

 

Lower ball joints will creak and sound like a rocking chair, long drawn out creak noise.

97-03 have issues with sway bar end links failing
04-08 have sway bar bushings that can get noisey, but still check the ball joints

 

The sway bar end links look ok. I also have an engine whine at idle. Above 1000 rpm it goes away.

 

Engine whine at idle is either the power steering pump or a battery on its last legs causing the alternator to overwork itself.

To check the bushings, spray them with WD-40. That will quiet them down temporarily.

 

Well my battery is only a couple months old so it's not that. Thanks for the wd40 tip, I'll give that a try.

 

I have a similar creaking noise and I think mine is coming from the upper control arm bushings. YMMV.

 

Or a tensioner pulley

 

Yeah mine are cracked pretty bad, I think that's my problem.

 

Well the whine was a pulley. I should have checked it out sooner. It froze up and broke my belt. I was 13 miles from home and no one could help me tow it. So I coaxed it home and just kept an eye on the temp gauge. Luckily it's only 40 degrees out.

 

Damn, I bet that took awhile.

Yea, I change that idler and tensioner each time I change the belt.

 

Damn. I know my tensioner whines. Guess i should change it. Are they hard to change?

 

5 minutes, 7 w/beer. -Just 3 bolts, easy to get at.