When turning the steering all the way to one side or the other, and backing up, or pulling forward, I hear a creaking noise which sounds like the struts making noise. Is this the same thing as the "clunk" noise that they sell "clunk" washers for?

My L is a 2004 which I have had for a couple of months now. Do I need to grease the front end?

 

I have the clunk washers and I still hear a "crack" sometimes while backing up. I also hear it when I brake hard sometimes. No idea what it is though...

 

edit

 

grease your steering stops and it will go away, its a 2$ / 10 min fix.... unless you're stock height, then you dont even have to jack up the truck. Mine did that for a while...greased them about 20k miles ago and have had no problems.

 

Blown347Hatch

I had the same problem, only happened when i was backing up and turning. It would make a crink noise, like a metel on metal pinch.


Figured out the control arm bolts were a little loose.
Have not heard it since.
Luke

 

So, it appears there trucks come with loose control arms and loose cab mounting bolts? So, I need to get under the truck and tighten the cab mount bolts and control arm bolts, and grease the steering stops?

I hope it got it straight?

 

My control arms were fine....grease the stops first, its the easiest of the solutions.... not saying its not possible...but not as likely to be the bolts....it would make two different sounds.

 

My friends w/ L's complain about the creaking noise a lot, especially when turning the wheel all the way and backing up. They have 2000, 2002, and 2004 L's and they all do it.

 

That's exactly what mine is doing.
So, greasing the stops from what I am seeing in the above posts stops it.

 

The fact that you're backing up in itself, doesnt really come into play much.... its all about low speed and hard steering... Im not exactly sure why it doesnt do it at higher speeds....but I have seen quite a few Ls with the problem....usually on lowered trucks more than stock height... Im sure the angle plays a roll...usually people driveways are angled downward...so I can see why it would be more pronounced then