MiddleChil

Hey, any advice is greatly appreciated on this problem as it eats me away not knowing what to replace.

My GS300 '02 started creaking over speed bumps or similar road bumps at lower speeds and strongly swerving and pulling at around 30-50 Mph on uneven roads and bumps. I recently got new 18" Wheels with lower profile tires but I am hoping that isn't the issue.
I bought new KYB strut mounts but after disassembly of the shock I found out it doesn't return at all after being compressed and I am guessing but not being sure they should return same as other shocks please correct me if I am wrong and if that is the issue with noise and sway.

Many thanks to anyone contributing as I really really do want to drive the car.

Edit: Mileage is 320 000 miles

Arcadian

You got a lot going on. Creaking can mean ball-joints. You've gone to a lower profile tire and you've got something going on with shocks, and a lot of miles on the car. Are the shocks new? Did you get an alignment when you got the 18s and low-profiles? How old are the rest of the suspension components?

CurlyG

Jack the front end up and jack stand it so that the front wheels are off of the ground. On each side, grab a tire and try to move the wheel left/right, then up/down. You should feel and hear nothing. If you feel the wheel move, and hear pops/squeaks, a joint needs to be replaced.
Low profile 18's with aggressive tread will tramline more than the stock 16's on spongy tires. Wheel camber and toe must also be dialed in, otherwise both can increase tramlining.
Update:
I upgraded to 18's from 16's a while back, and even with my rowdy 1.5" drop, the car still has no tramlining issues. I do get more "rattles" now, especially with the majority of the OEM rubber gone, replaced with medium durometer PU.

MiddleChil

Alignment shop it is. Thank you very much.