Alright, I think I've posted enough "try this" replys to problems to present my own. My front end has developed the most annoying creaking/groaning sound, and its becoming down right embarrasing pulling into my complex and, worst of all, pulling into work. My wife is even embarrased to drive with me now, and I know her brand new 4Runner is laughing at poor old Monty in the garage very night.

At work all the Mercedes, BMW and "high end" pavement pounder SUV drivers look at me with distain. Today, as one of the partners climbed out of his brand new Infinity, he jokingly told me to get my "damn car fixed." That was the last straw.

In my ongoing battle with this noise (going on about four months now) I've hit every bushing with spray lithium grease (probably not a good idea for the life of the rubber bushings, but I bacame desperate some time ago). I've hit under the dust covers of the tortion bars too. I thought once, when I hit the steering linkage with some grease, the thing shut up for a few days, but I can't seem to find that same place again, try as I might.

It creaks over all manner of bumps (even little bumps on the freeway) and when I brake at low speeds, and it groans when I turn. I hit all the chassis zerks with with brand new grease, I've changed the brakes (rotors and pads), repacked the wheel bearings, checked and lubed the steering linkage, and checked the power steering (fluid level and hoses). I frustration I took it to my shop today and they said a chassis lube will do it, but I did that already (I don't want to take it back because the guy keeps telling me to get my timing belt replaced and I don't want to spend the money yet)! And, yes, I think I've read enough posts, looked at the book enough times and have been under the damn thing enough times to know where all of the zerk fittings are (although I'm still open to suggestions).

I bought the truck used and it was missing all the skid plates (except the one on the very front), had a new drivers side axle, and it appears to have undergone some body work on the hood (yeah, and the CARFAX was clean - some good that thing is). I had to replace the driver's side diff seal because it was leaking, and it looked like the that side took an impact judging by the way the old seal was bent (the hole for the drive shaft was actually oblong, and that's where it was leaking from).

Now, my questions: As a result of an impact, could it have affected my (outrageously expensive to replace) steering box, and could that be making all the creaking and groaning noise? Has anyone ever had problems with these units before? Or rebuit one?

Usually if I sit and drink a few beers and stare at the thing I can solve the problem, but I'm at my wit's end with this seemingly simple, silly, annoying noise. I anticipate I'll be subjected to my mantra "drive it 'till it breaks," but I may be meeting Carlos to buy his old brushguard off him, and since my rig is already embarrassingly stock compared to his, I don't need to be more embarrased with this damn creaking noise!

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Oh, it's a 1997 SR, Auto with the 3.5 SOHC engine, and I cranked the tortion bars about 8 full turns to bring it back to stock- looking height or maybe an inch of lift (before the noise started). Thank you!

Jim