Help finding creaking noise

[97blkeclipse]

I have an odd situation going on with my 97 talon awd. Last fall the motor was removed and rebuilt. By late fall, the engine was back in and car was back on the road with no real issues (small oil leaks to fix). Put some miles on the new motor and winter came and the car was stored until this April. When I took the car out of storage, everything was fine and this problematic noise didn't exist. I haven't been able to drive it much because of my busy schedule but last week I was able to drive it 3 straight days. By the third day, I was noticing an odd creaking sound that could be heard during certain situations.

I would start the car after sitting for hours (cold start) and I couldn't hear it. As soon as the car was put into reverse and I start letting the clutch out to back up, the creak came back. Its as if engine movement is related. The best time to make it creak is if I am cruising in any gear and I push the clutch in and let it out fast causing a fast sudden load on the drive line it will creak every time.

Here's the weird part. If it has been driven and creaking sound has started and the car is shut off and restarted (on hot starts) the creak sound can be heard while the car is just idling. Worse if I turn the AC on.

What could this be? My 2 lower control arms need replaced because there is alot of movement in them. They do not make noise on turns. In fact this creak doesn't occur just because the car is turning.

I have no idea what it could be. Could it be the clutch? Suspension related? Motor mounts? Driveline? What's the best place to start looking? Thanks for your help.

 

[Mrdiamondstars]

Possibly ball joints if it sounds like an old rocking chair. Normally you can physically push the front end of the car up and down to replicate the noise.

 

[97blkeclipse]

Even while the car is just idling? Maybe when the ac is kicked on and Rpms slightly increase there is slight movement in balljoints? I plan on replacing them as soon as parts come in but any other things I should check?

 

[MiroDSM]

Try rocking the car back and forth in each side on the front of course. It could be ball joints, mine separated in a parking lot. Fixed by Mitsubishi since the recall hadn't been done, they replaced both and a cv since it took one out.

 

[97blkeclipse]

I am going to try that. In all my experience with ball joints they have always creaked While turning. Mine isn't making the noise while turning or traveling over bumps only from engine movement from clutch or idling.

 

[MiroDSM]

Mine would do it just getting in and out of the car, it would go away and come back. It was weird. Good luck

 

[maddogxx]

Mine would do it just getting in and out of the car, it would go away and come back. It was weird. Good luck

That is so wierd, mine had new ball joints front and rear and after 2 months one of the front left ones starting creaking for about 4-5 weeks then stopped??