Creaky tappy steering. Not coupling bush thing
2009 i30
So I had the black star common issue cluncking coupling bush replaced 2019.
January this year I noticed the steering was noisy, when driving slow, when parking especially. Asked mechanic, he said check when cool day. I did and sound was gone. He said most likely a dry bush and he'd lube next time I came in.
Around April it was still annoying he lubed the bottom bush (So under the floor under steering wheel part). It didn't fix issue. I also noted a slight tapping or clumping when driving straight. Made me thing it may be something else.
In July he checked things and ruled out ball joints, etc. He lubed strutt. Didn't go away. He replaced strutt. Didn't fix it.
It's been cold. It only happens when warm after long drive
I took it back he tightened steering somehow. Didn't fix it.
Got a check at ja x when getting wheel alignment. They found no problem. So today it's a warm spring day and it's as loud as last summer. Creaky when steering slow. I was also able to tell it isnt suspension
Car drives fine.
Ideas? I'm guessing a dry bush somewhere that is worse when swelling in heat.
Is there a steering column bush up closer to the steering wheel? Is there a way to lube/silicone areas up near the coupling bush without taking the whole thing out again?
About to get mechanic neighbour to look but want to give him some ideas