2004 3.5 Vue -- Suspension creaking noises

[silversaturnvue]

I was driving the car through an industrial park tonight....
Went over a few speed bumps

When I go over the speed bumps (around 5mph or so) both the front end and the rear make creaking noises. My wife says she hears the same thing going over train tracks...
kinda sounds like a creaky door...or a creaky rocking chair....

I just recently had Saturn replace both front strut mounts under warranty.

Any suggestions on what is causing this noise?

Could it be the cold weather? I live in Connecticut, where the temp is only about 20 degrees or so...

Or do I need new shocks/struts?

The car has just over 50K miles on it.
2004 Vue 3.5 V6 AWD

Thanks...
mike

[Ritz]

What dealer did the work? At 50k miles, they ought to have advised you to do the struts at the same time. That's about when they start to go mushy, especially on a porky SUV.

I suspect you also need sway bar end links. They're known to fail early as well.

Cheers,

[silversaturnvue]

Saturn of Danbury did the work.....

Ritz-- If I remember correctly, you are in Fairfield County too....do you take your car there? But I also bet (from reading your posts) you do a lot of your own maintenance work yourself.....

Struts are in the front right? Would they be covered under warranty?
Sway bar end links....warranty too?

[BryanF]

Try and look into getting new shocks and struts all around. I had the same noise a few weeks back. I set aside an afternoon and replalced the struts, upper mounts, and sway bar links in the front, and the shock in the rear, and the noise is gone now.

[Ritz]

Originally Posted by silversaturnvue

Saturn of Danbury did the work.....

Ritz-- If I remember correctly, you are in Fairfield County too....do you take your car there? But I also bet (from reading your posts) you do a lot of your own maintenance work yourself.....

Struts are in the front right? Would they be covered under warranty?
Sway bar end links....warranty too?

I occasionally get parts from Saturn of Danbury, but I had my warranty work done at Saturn of Fairfield (I live in between...in Redding).

I doubt any of this would be under warranty for you due to the mileage and age of your VUE (3 years/36k is the warranty period for that vintage VUE). Yes, all those bits are part of the front suspension. If you live nearby, maybe I can take a peak at it so you'll at least know what to ask the dealer for if/when you bring it back.

Cheers,

[silversaturnvue]

Ritz --

I should have added in my previous post....
I have an extended warranty on the VUE....100K miles.
They replaced the strut mounts under warranty last month.

I am gonna call Saturn of Danbury tomorrow and make an appointment for this weekend.
Hopefully they will be able to reproduce the problem...
and then replace the sway bar end links and struts (for the front) and shocks (for the rear)....

all under warranty.

(fingers crossed...)

[Ritz]

Originally Posted by silversaturnvue

Ritz --

I should have added in my previous post....
I have an extended warranty on the VUE....100K miles.
They replaced the strut mounts under warranty last month.

I am gonna call Saturn of Danbury tomorrow and make an appointment for this weekend.
Hopefully they will be able to reproduce the problem...
and then replace the sway bar end links and struts (for the front) and shocks (for the rear)....

all under warranty.

(fingers crossed...)

Good times. You should be good to go then.

Cheers,

[txaginid]

I have the same sounds on my 04 3.5 L AWD Vue. Only thing it seems to not happen all the time and is loud sometimes and not so bad others when it does make noise. It does seem to happen more when it is cold out.
I am planning on taking my Vue in today to a local tire store to get a brake check ( approaching 70k miles with the original brakes), I will see if they say anything about the noise.

[1saxman]

On your extended warranty; the front struts may covered because they form the upper member of the front suspension, but the rear shocks most likely will not be. They would be considered a wear/maintenance item. The rears most likely do not need replacing anyway unless you have been towing or carrying very heavy loads (like four other adults and their luggage every day). The rear suspension has not been known to be troublesome on the early VUE except for that bogus 'J-hook' manuever deal that caused the recall for the rear control arms. Front stabilizer bar vertical end links should be covered under most any mechanical warranty except the power train-only type.