Chevy Equinox bad struts makes a creaking noise?
Well yes it could be just your upper strut mounts and bearings are faulty.One test some do is try pushing down on the front end and see how many times it bounces the basic rule is it shouldn't bounce more then twice that would tell us that the shock part of the strut is no good, plus how it takes bumps but remember the proper tire pressures effect how the car handles pumps too.
Another thing you can do is look up at the wheel and tire see how much clearance its has between the wheel walls.If it's the right tire and air there should be lots of clearance.Basically if the say front end isnt sitting up high enough you not the right clearances then you could say the strut spring is faulty but sometimes a shock will be so bad it also casuses the same issues.
If you feel like a rubbing or hestitation in the steering wheel , then it could be the strut mounts for sure but yes change both sides not just one.You would see this same hestitation up inside above the spring when turning the wheel too that say upper mounts and bearing are going or gone.
When dealing with struts remember for the longest time you could only buy new struts that came without springs , but now a days some offer new complete strut assemblies.What is best to do is get more then one opinion on the strut or front end faults and shop around for struts or mounts etc , some rebuilt struts are much cheaper come with the springs and have full lifetime warrantys.
If you're going to be driving on rough turf or roads and planning on keeping that vehicle awhile more then try getting a upgrade in struts , example basic struts , med grade , heavy duty struts.If I got them for the right price and labour cheap enough if I was you I'd be sure my rear struts are solid and also upgrade then down the line etc , just remember it's best to have the proper tire air pressure , all 4 wheels balanced and then get a 4 wheel alignment after changing the struts or replacing mounts etc unless the mechanic is right on and no need but always get it checked for alignment anyways and any good shop wont do one if they find the struts and vehicle within proper alignment specs.
Just don't let some shop just change the mounts unless the bearings are include and never do one side bec the whole steering will have uneven pressures and wear out faster.Its like you dont change one headlight with changing the other bec it ends up unbalanced and causes the other headlight to fail almost asap.
Hope that helps and best of luck.By the way you can get the vehicle's front end up via jacks , stands , rear blocks , emg brake and whobble the tire from 12 to 6 oclock see if you look up above the spring if excess play exists , plus you could find out if the tie rods, ball joints are solid etc by doing this at 3 and 9 oclock and repeating the 12 and 6 oclock test.
Try pulling on the outer tie rods see if theyve any play do that with the inner tie rods too bec you could have a combination of problems or the inner tie bushings might be worn out.A service manual could be quite helpful to you now and in the future bec they've trouble shooting charts and diagrams too.
