2012 LT Hatch 45-46k miles, 1.8L Automatic.
I had some front end creaking, etc, so I had a shop change the stabilizer bar links about a month ago. I asked about the sway bar bushings and they said they looked great. Cured all problems, even ones I didn't know I had.
One month later, more clicking and creaking but MOSTLY groaning when steering at very low speeds, sounded worst coming in and out of the driveway, parking lots, etc.
I thought maybe the replacement plastic links were not installed tight enough, so I pulled the wheels and checked. They were fine, but I did rotate the mounting bolts about 90 degrees, unintentionally. Seemed to immediately solve the issue, so I assumed the plastic joints on them were going bad again already, and maybe I just found a good spot when rotating the bolts.
Two days later, not much clicking, but I have really bad front end groaning when turning the steering wheel at low speeds....
One guy on-line said this groan turned out to be custom tie rod ends on his corvette just starting to go bad, after pro shops told him it was the rack or the steering shaft. But this is a Sonic with factory ends...
Other posts said it was belts separating inside the tires, but they are less than 1 yr old Pirelli's, so that is doubtful. Other posts said this noise disappeared after removing and re-installing the front wheels, so I checked the lug nuts, but they are not loose. Some say strut mounts, but that is more of a click or clunk, this definitely is a low-pitched groan.
Maybe my next step is to remove the links altogether and see if I still get the noise. Could I test it that way for a day? I know the grease-able steel links are less than $20 each on Rockauto.com, but if that's not it, I don't see the point.
Oddly, my other two Sonics have not had many front-end issues, they are both sedans.
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
I had some front end creaking, etc, so I had a shop change the stabilizer bar links about a month ago. I asked about the sway bar bushings and they said they looked great. Cured all problems, even ones I didn't know I had.
One month later, more clicking and creaking but MOSTLY groaning when steering at very low speeds, sounded worst coming in and out of the driveway, parking lots, etc.
I thought maybe the replacement plastic links were not installed tight enough, so I pulled the wheels and checked. They were fine, but I did rotate the mounting bolts about 90 degrees, unintentionally. Seemed to immediately solve the issue, so I assumed the plastic joints on them were going bad again already, and maybe I just found a good spot when rotating the bolts.
Two days later, not much clicking, but I have really bad front end groaning when turning the steering wheel at low speeds....
One guy on-line said this groan turned out to be custom tie rod ends on his corvette just starting to go bad, after pro shops told him it was the rack or the steering shaft. But this is a Sonic with factory ends...
Other posts said it was belts separating inside the tires, but they are less than 1 yr old Pirelli's, so that is doubtful. Other posts said this noise disappeared after removing and re-installing the front wheels, so I checked the lug nuts, but they are not loose. Some say strut mounts, but that is more of a click or clunk, this definitely is a low-pitched groan.
Maybe my next step is to remove the links altogether and see if I still get the noise. Could I test it that way for a day? I know the grease-able steel links are less than $20 each on Rockauto.com, but if that's not it, I don't see the point.
Oddly, my other two Sonics have not had many front-end issues, they are both sedans.
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
