Why is my suspension noisier when it is cold??

[bcossa2001]

97 Avalan--178K miles.

I have noticed that whenever it is cold (below 40 degrees) my suspension starts groaning/rattling. It was 32 this morning and I heard the left front strut groaning as I turned right--this does not happen if it is warm. I also hear a loud rattling from the front right body panels......

Ideas??

 

[jldcol]

Any rubber bushings will be stiffer when cold. There are pieces of rubber or plastic like material that isolate springs from metal where they seat. Shocks and struts have seals that are also stiffer cold. The strut sound could be also the bottom ball joint groaning when rotated, the sound then travelling up thru the strut.

 

[youdontwannaknow]

When I had the dreaded cold weather squeak on my accord I cleaned the rubber bushings and applied(sprayed) white lithium grease. Squeak hasn't come back since then.
Temperory improvement in ride quality was an added bonus too as a result of this exercise.

 

[bcossa2001]

Thanks to all!!! Merry Xmas...

 

[parimento1]

I have the same car but with 145k miles. It does the exact same thing, I get groans and creaks when it is cold, which has gotten somewhat worse as the car has aged. I chalk it up to the chassis flexing after all those bumps and potholes it has experienced on NYC streets over the past 12 years. However, it you have a CLUNK from the front end, it is most likely the strut mounts.