My car started creaking over rough surfaces, also did it when reversing slowly. It turned out to be a snapped coil spring. Upon inspection it looked fine yet the arch gap on the front passenger side was an inch or so less than the drivers side, removing the spring showed it had snapped right down the bottom where it sits.
Check for play in the following,
1, drop links
2, lower wishbone arms. (each arm has two bushes plus a ball joint)
3, any weeping signs from shocks?
4, open bonnet and have someone full lock the steering from side to side and look at the top of the shockers from the engine bay. There will be some movement, however as with mine the passenger side was excessive in comparison to the drivers side so i changed both springs over.
5, any play in track rod end
keep us updated with how you get on.
