The noise you describe sure sounds like the PS system. Is steering a bit more difficult than usual? Is the PS belt tight?

 

Hobo,

I doubt it's a power steering issue. I worked for Toyota for about 12years and we had toyo's with this type of noise. Somewhere on the steering knuckle there's a bolt or stud that sticks out that stops the knuckle from moving once the turn limit is reached. On toyo's they had a plastic cap that would hit instead of metal. These would need to be replaced after a while. I'm not sure if honda uses these but I know my civic does the same thing. My guess is there's a place on the lower control arm that needs a little grease. If it were a p/s pump it would be a whining noise, a belt usually squeals and a rack could make a variety of noises - none that I've ever heard sounds like a coffin opening though. With my civic, if I turn the wheel all the way till it stops there's no noise. But as soon as I start moving I get the noise you described. I would turn the wheel till it stops and look under the car where the knuckle and lower control arm meet. See if there's marks or scuffs and try putting a little grease on that location. This is what they did at toyo and charged you $100.

 

Vladio,

I will take a look this weekend. The powersteering is working like it should so I also think it's not powersteering related.
It doesn't make the noise if I'm not moving. At a standstill I can turn the wheel with no noise but if the car is moving and I turn the wheel the creaking start.

I'll jack the car up this weekend.

 

It's the suspension bushings. Look at the lower control arm bushings. If they have cracking on them, they need to be replaced. For the creaking sound, though, it needs to be metal on metal, which will be obvious when you look at the bushings.

If they are bad, don't oil them. That will make it worse. The control arms have to be replaced. It's expensive but necessary.

Lots of 2000-ish cars are also having this problem. The rubber bushing quality seems to have gone downhill.

 

I checked all of my bushings and they all looked great...CV boots are good too. I gotta check again so see if anything is loose..I'm now getting a loose sound when I go over bumps with the LF wheel.

 

Hehe, no powersteering on my 89, loving every minute of it. CV Axles make more of a clicking noise, not a creaking noise. I think I agree more with the powersteering issue.

 

Hobo,

I might of misunderstood you. Is the wheel turned to the stop when you pull out and you hear the noise or is it anytime you have the wheel turned and you're moving?

 

Anytime I'm moving and turn the wheel. It's only when I turn the wheel pretty far. Mild turns, no noise.

 

Check the strut.

 

OK, I finally took it in to be diagnosed. Turns out it was the axles, both of them.
I had them replaced and no more noise.
Thanks for all the help.