creaking, groaning, there is a sound seemingly coming from the front section of the car when the steering wheel is turned. It's always there no matter if car has run already or in the morning. Sway bar bushings, spring mounts? Are there good ways to test which actually is causing the problem? 997.2 with oem suspension and only 45k kms. Thanks for the insights brothers.

 

Can you decipher where exactly it's coming from? Is it the left or right side? Coming from the wheels or a specific area? Can dig through our tech articles here and see if you can find something that might help you diagnose/fix the issue. Good luck!

-Luccia

 

Luccia, thanks for responding, it seems to be coming from the front at least that i can say. Whether it comes from right or left is difficult as its a low frequency groan. I notice the sound even with slight steering movments when engine idling.

 

**** in the dark but is your power steering fluid ok?

 

Agreed. Can't remember if it was my 997 or other car, but every time i turn the steering wheel (even just a bit) there are some noise and tiny vibration coming from the steering wheel column area. The problem went away after replacing the power steering fluid.

 

And "if" the fluid was low, add/fill to the specs, turn engine on, turn steering wheel full left and full right multiple times to get air out.

If noise doesn't go away, then check other causes. Fluid ck would be the least expensive and easiest path for now. GL

 

This sounds a lot like the issue I experience from time to time on my '09 Carrera. The groaning / creaking is due to the bearings at the top of the front strut towers that allow the suspension to turn with the wheels. There is, I'm sure, a proper name for this bearing/assembly but it's escaping me right now.

Anyhow, I was quoted something like $600 to replace both sides to alleviate the issue, which I think is nuts. Instead, I followed the tip elsewhere on here that said you can just spray the bearings from time to time with some penetrating oil. So I've been using a little PB blaster 2-3 times per year and that's been working just fine.

 

I had this problem with my 997.1. My squeaking/creaking was solved by replacing the driver's side control arm, it was most likely the ball joint (you have to replace the whole arm). $750 at the dealership.

 

So OP, what was the issue?

 

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Our new poster jmcn got it absolutely right on his very first post! I went closer to each wheel while I asked my daughter to turn it. Groaning noise came from the driver's side. Took some silicone spray, there was a rubber part so I did not use penetrating oil, and sprayed it to the bearing assembly on top of the strut. This is from inside the wheel well. Noise gone!