My car makes a bit of a creaking noise when pulling away from stationary or when turning a sharp corner, got her up on a jack and I've found I can move the wheel causing the strut to move about a cm or 2. On the other side there is movement but more like a mm or 2 anyone got any ideas what I need to repair / replace or further tests I can do to check it over ? Also when the car is full (IE 5 adults) the back suspension has a very nasty creaking noise seperately ideas would be appriciated. Trying to get everything sorted before her MOT next month

(Just to confirm the strut is the metal rod poking into the engine bay under the black plastic cups ?)

In which direction is the movement and where is the movement exactly? If it's at the top mount I guess either the top mount bearing needs replacing.

The only circumstances under which I've experienced creaky rear suspension is when reversing and it seemed to be the bushes at the bottom of the shock absorber falling out. Yours sounds like something different going on though.

As I remember the direction was any movement horizontally, IE could move forwards backwards left and right but no up and down. So either a top mounting or a bearing in the top mounting ?

If it were to be the bushings falling out is there an obvious test I could use to find it by inspection? and how would I go about repairing that, simply push them back in or buy new ones ?

Thanks for the reply

If it were to be the bushings falling out is there an obvious test I could use to find it by inspection? and how would I go about repairing that, simply push them back in or buy new ones ?

Bottom of the shock absorber bush coming out would look like

at the bottom of the shock. It can be viewed at this angle directly from the rear of the car. I'm not sure if this is the situation in your case though. A mechanic levered mine back in with a screwdriver but it quickly came back out. I believe you can buy the bush separately but need a special press to put it in. I just replaced the shocks.

Ah, thank you very much for the picture I'll take a look when its not dark and raining. I can't seem to see the bushes anywhere but the shocks don't seem an outrageous price or too difficult to fit and if its going to fix the issue its much cheaper than any garage will charge me.

So with the front strut moving (I'm a little more concerned about it incase of failing the MOT in a month ish) Is replacing the front strut mounts difficult and is there any easy ways to identify this bearing being worn without taking the car apart ?

Managed to get a look at her today, unfortunately those bushes are still in tact and in place. So that can't be the issue, I noticed the sticky about worn bottom cups, mine are rusty but if I knock them they sound soild and looks like surface rust only. I've taken a snap does that look like excessive rust ?

If I igore the creak, is there likely to be long term damage anywhere? As I figure things are easier to find when they fail ?