Suspension squeak
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
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From: Washington DC
Suspension squeak
I have been noticing a squeak coming from my front suspension for quite some time now. It has grown progressively worse and I am looking for some input as to possible causes. Initially, it was only noticeable when I was applying the brakes and I went over a bump, however now it is basically constant. Anytime I hit any sort of bump on the road, my front end squeaks. I can go to the front fender and bounce it up and down, causing the errrrrr-EEEEEE with each bounce coming from the driver’s side. 
I replaced the front shocks and it has new calipers as well.
Control arm bushings? Could it have something to do with the spring?
I replaced the front shocks and it has new calipers as well.
Control arm bushings? Could it have something to do with the spring?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by mensch53
I have been noticing a squeak coming from my front suspension for quite some time now. It has grown progressively worse and I am looking for some input as to possible causes. Initially, it was only noticeable when I was applying the brakes and I went over a bump, however now it is basically constant. Anytime I hit any sort of bump on the road, my front end squeaks. I can go to the front fender and bounce it up and down, causing the errrrrr-EEEEEE with each bounce coming from the driver’s side.
I replaced the front shocks and it has new calipers as well.
Control arm bushings? Could it have something to do with the spring?
I replaced the front shocks and it has new calipers as well.
Control arm bushings? Could it have something to do with the spring?
id get under it and do an inspection of shocks, uper and lower control arms and springs for sure
when was the last time you lubed the front end? ( i.e. zirk fittings?)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
Originally Posted by sweethence
id get under it and do an inspection of shocks, uper and lower control arms and springs for sure
when was the last time you lubed the front end? ( i.e. zirk fittings?)
when was the last time you lubed the front end? ( i.e. zirk fittings?)
In doing the shocks, I didnt see anything specific, but I may have missed something. One thing that has been there since I bought the car is some strange spacer/insert stuck into the spring on that side. Dont know if they were trying to adjust the ride height or if there was one that fell out of the passenger side, but it is there. But, if that was the cause, it should have done this from the beginning.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by mensch53
I was under it two weekends ago doing the shocks. Bought the world's worst grease gun, which gave out on my half way through all the zirks, but I did do all of them on the driver's side.
In doing the shocks, I didnt see anything specific, but I may have missed something. One thing that has been there since I bought the car is some strange spacer/insert stuck into the spring on that side. Dont know if they were trying to adjust the ride height or if there was one that fell out of the passenger side, but it is there. But, if that was the cause, it should have done this from the beginning.
In doing the shocks, I didnt see anything specific, but I may have missed something. One thing that has been there since I bought the car is some strange spacer/insert stuck into the spring on that side. Dont know if they were trying to adjust the ride height or if there was one that fell out of the passenger side, but it is there. But, if that was the cause, it should have done this from the beginning.
that thing is a spring support, it is used to give tired ol springs a littel lift that is stopp sagging, if its still there its not the culprit if its now gone, maybe but i doubt it. on the other hand if the spring is old and tired, it it may be the cause if its not sitting right, i still think another inspectionis in order
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
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From: Washington DC
Originally Posted by Emeightch
Don't know if you have poly bushings or not, but that may be the culprit.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
Originally Posted by sweethence
i still think another inspectionis in order
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
Good timing on the other post on here about rubber vs poly bushings. I just remembered I think the sway bar ends look like they have been replaced with poly bushings. Would poor lubrication on them cause the squeak when the car moves up and down?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by mensch53
What should I be looking for? I know the shocks are in good shape. Am I looking specifically at the control arm mounts, springs, etc? What are possible problems to look out for?
your gonna want to check the bushings at the upper and lower controll arms, you are looking for excessive wear/ binding, you will want to check the spring itself, when its in the air see if you can move it around at all, you will want to take a look at the ball joints fro good measure, also check sawy bay end links
also turn the wheel lock to lock and see how the noise changes form alll the way left to all the way right
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by mensch53
Good timing on the other post on here about rubber vs poly bushings. I just remembered I think the sway bar ends look like they have been replaced with poly bushings. Would poor lubrication on them cause the squeak when the car moves up and down?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
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From: Boca Raton Florida
The end links will not squeek, its probly the sway bar bushings, pop them off and use a little lithium grease on them, problem solved. The sway bar twists in the bushing and will squeek sometimes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
The end links will not squeek, its probly the sway bar bushings, pop them off and use a little lithium grease on them, problem solved. The sway bar twists in the bushing and will squeek sometimes.
Good catch maybe hell get lucky
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
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From: Washington DC
Just went out to look at the sway bar. The end link bushings are blue, so I would assume they are poly. The bushings on the bar itself are black and look older. They do feel pretty damn hard, though. I would hope that the previous owners replaced those at the same time as the end links, but that may not be the case. Shouldnt the bushings be blue like the end links had they done them at the same time?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
could be any color, red, blue, black. The rubber bushings are kind of hard especially if old. check the surface in the light, Poly are kind of shiny, rubber will be dull unless glazed. If they have surface cracks,order new poly.
