Fixing Suspension at Under 70K mi???
 

So I have been hearing creaking noise out of the driver's side front end when the AC is on and took it to the mechanic. They say its the top assembly of the suspension, and more specifically the ball or bushing.

A little bit of backstory: I put on swift springs at like 1k miles and the car is at 67k miles.

My question to all is if anybody can help me make the decision to just buy assemblies, bushings, springs... what should I do? I mean either way it is going to be up (and that means like $300 labor at least in SF), and now I am thinking of going back to stock (as the car in general seems to be getting noisier all over).

The noise only occurs when the AC is on and lingers for a while when off. Can hear it with window down, and when stopping, taking off, turning, etc. Is this a normal thing?

This sounds like an engine mount problem if the noise come and goes with the A/C system. Unless the rubber is blown out on the suspension and causing some intermittent movement and clash between metal, this shouldn't be the issue. The springs shouldn't be creaking on and off dependent on the A/C.

Ya, this definitely isn't suspension related. I just don't see how the AC could trigger a sound within the suspension. It has to be a mount or bushing related.