Creak on front end

[JohnRider]

08 GP 3.8L base model. So when I'm stopped and then accelerate straight ahead, the front end naturally raises a little and I hear the noticeable creak that coincides with the raising of the front end. Sounds like an old wood floor creaking. I can't really hear it on turns, but I'll keep my ear open.

Anyway, I can't determine if it's the strut spring or the sway bar bushings. Any thoughts or similar experiences?

[CrazyGuy03]

Could be as simple as the upper bushings dog bone mounts
with the hood open car off and in park, try standing in front of the car and push on the rad support to rock the rock car. You should be able to hear if those bushings are creaking before you move into the suspension

[310toumad]

Do you hear any noise when shifting into drive/reverse? I had the same 'creaking' noise when accelerating from a dead stop. Ended up being the lower motor mount needing replacement, yours might be on the way out. I changed mine and that fixed the problem.

[GTPpower]

I had a cracked sway bar that made a similar noise.

[JohnRider]

Don't hear anything when shifting or anything in reverse. Its just from the car raising slightly from accelerating from a stop. And it's not like, crazy loud, you have to have the radio off and you can easily hear it.
Are motor mounts easy to do on this model? is there a youtube video out there that's similar I could watch?

[EJOUIE]

Check the bolts on the braces under the hood.

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[310toumad]

Don't hear anything when shifting or anything in reverse. Its just from the car raising slightly from accelerating from a stop. And it's not like, crazy loud, you have to have the radio off and you can easily hear it.
Are motor mounts easy to do on this model? is there a youtube video out there that's similar I could watch?

Well check if it needs replacing first. You can jack the car up and pull off the splash shield to get a look at it. If it looks "smashed" or like it has collapsed to the point where the mount is resting on the cross-pin on the rubber mount, then I'd replace it. The rubber part that sticks up and has the stud in it was practically flattened on mine.

Two tools that will make removing it a lot easier: offset box wrench, and ratcheting wrench (15mm).

To remove it:
1) Unbolt dogbone mounts, remove splash shield.
2) Remove the four nuts securing the motor mount to the frame.
3) Grab a piece of 2x6 or 2x8 about 14" long and place it under the transmission and oil pan.
4) Slowly raise the engine, watch how the bracket moves off of the mount. If it appear to be tilting too far forward without lifting off, you may want to lower it again and readjust your board. It will make it a lot easier if you can raise the bracket "straight" up off the studs.
5) You'll need to raise the engine at least several inches to have enough room to remove it, raise slowly and wiggle the mount to see if it comes out.
6) Put in the new mount, and slowly lower the engine. You may find the bracket holes may not line up with the studs. Some people talk about having to heave on the engine or use a large pry-bar to get it in place. Never had to do that myself, if you reach in you can grab the mount by the side (not on top where your hand will get crushed) you can angle or position it slightly to align with the holes, then lower the engine a bit until the studs pass through.
7) Tighten nuts to 35 ft-lbs.

[JohnRider]

Ok I did what CrazyGuy03said, rocked the car forward and back. No noise when rocked back. Rock/pull the car forward and the rubber makes a noise at the limitation of the pulling forward. The rubber bushings on the radiator side of the dog bone are making noise. Does the engine want to rotate forward when you accelerate forward? If so, I would see how this would stress those bushings similar to my test and make the same noise.

The bushings didn't look worn or degraded. The little play they had in there is what was making the noise. Should this be a concern, or just fix replace them when I get around to it?

[JohnRider]

Well I replaced the "upper engine torque mounts." Just the radiator side bracket/bushing assemblies, not the dog bones. It does FEEL a little better during acceleration and shifting, but that could also be the placebo effect. The old one was just worn out rubber, not damaged just aged, which allowed for too much wiggling.

It still makes the noise I was describing through , so that's disappointing.

The lower engine mount, looked good when I glanced at it, maybe I'll do a more thorough inspection later. I really doubt it's the sway bar bushings cuz that only comes into play on turns. The suspension seems fine and responsive, not excessively bouncing around. Although it could be the springs creaking when the car lifts up from accelerating.