Would you fellas believe this?...I had my wife compressing front end to elicit the creaking sound I've been trying to chase down. I was under car with hands checking control arm, sway bar link, coils, struts as she was compressing suspension all the while listening to this annoying sound which by the way I hear constantly while driving slow speed.

All the above mentioned components had slight perceptible feel of a vibration, however when I placed my hand on passenger side steering rack shaft just outside the boot-bingo major vibration 10 times more pronounced than any other susp component.

So my conclusion is that the inner tie rod area is suspect at the ball socket area and that's what is causing this creaking. What do you think? Should I just get a reman rack from fcp with innner tie rods already? Or should I just get new inner tie rods?
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'97 964 -- 119K

How inconsiderate. You should be the one bouncing the car with superior strength and weight and have your wife underneath doing the easy part.

What about the outer tie rod ball joint. I should think the vibration would be felt along the entire rod not matter which end was the source.
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David Hunter

well it could be either one. I suppose you're right there probably is no way of isolating it beyond just general tie rod. Inner/outer it doesn't really matter. Should probably start with new rack with new inner and outers and be done with whole matter.

If i did this I would have a completely new front end and would be good for another 162K.
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'97 964 -- 119K