Need help diagnosing rear suspension creaking
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 17,881
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From: The third orange grove on the left
Need help diagnosing rear suspension creaking
I have had a creaking noise in my rear suspension and after several attempts I can't locate the source of the problem. It sounds like it may be a bushing that is bad but I'm not totally sure. The best way to describe it is it sounds like an old door creaking open while turning in parking lots, and when i drive over some but not all bumps. I have had the car up on the jack several times and I can't see or locate any problems. I have tried to move the wheels by hand in all directions and they are solid. I took a long bar and tried to move the wheel in its normal suspension travel and no noise. The second I move the car over a bump or make a turn.....CRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKK. How do I diagnose this problem? I had the car at the dealer and they wanted $2300 to rebuild the whole rear suspension so that didn't work. Any suggestions on what to do or look for? I am thinking about replacing the rear bushings but if I do all that and the noise is still there I am going to pull my hair out :D
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
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From: The Black Hole LA
Re: Need help diagnosing rear suspension creaking (1995LT1)
Maybe in the differential? Side yokes getting worn out maybe. Put the car up on jack stands on both sides and then get someone else to get inside the car and put it in drive for you. Maybe if it is the diff with the suspension hanging freely it will cause it to creek.
It does sound to me like a bearing or a U-joint though did you check the ones on the drive shaft? This is exactly what mine sounded like, only made sounds in slow turns or over bumps at low speeds. It was the U-joints, drive shaft in particular. Putting the car up on jack stands and watching it will show you if there is any slack in any of the joints, or you could crawl under there and try to rotate it by hand and if you have slack there is your problem.
It does sound to me like a bearing or a U-joint though did you check the ones on the drive shaft? This is exactly what mine sounded like, only made sounds in slow turns or over bumps at low speeds. It was the U-joints, drive shaft in particular. Putting the car up on jack stands and watching it will show you if there is any slack in any of the joints, or you could crawl under there and try to rotate it by hand and if you have slack there is your problem.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 835
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From: Water Winter Wonderland
Re: Need help diagnosing rear suspension creaking (1995LT1)
It's unclear to me, did you get the rear suspension rebuilt , or no? It sounds like a bushing to me, too. If aftermarket polyurethane bushings have been installed, they're notorious for squeeking. At any rate, try squirting a little WD-40 on the spring end-bolt bushings and the upper shock bushings. Take a ride. If the noice goes away, you've found the problem (the WD-40 fix won't last long). A real long shot would be the swaybar buskings and end links. Do the same thing w/ WD-40. Me thinks it's not a U-joint or wheel bearing, I've never heard either one of those squeek, they have a harder sound - clunk, click, grind! Good luck, don't give up!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 2
From: The Black Hole LA
Re: Need help diagnosing rear suspension creaking (ELEVENS)
It's unclear to me, did you get the rear suspension rebuilt , or no? It sounds like a bushing to me, too. If aftermarket polyurethane bushings have been installed, they're notorious for squeeking. At any rate, try squirting a little WD-40 on the spring end-bolt bushings and the upper shock bushings. Take a ride. If the noice goes away, you've found the problem (the WD-40 fix won't last long). A real long shot would be the swaybar buskings and end links. Do the same thing w/ WD-40. Me thinks it's not a U-joint or wheel bearing, I've never heard either one of those squeek, they have a harder sound - clunk, click, grind! Good luck, don't give up!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 17,881
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From: The third orange grove on the left
Re: Need help diagnosing rear suspension creaking (hz900)
I really think it is a bushing and not the u-joints. It sounds like something is loose in the suspension. It is a creeking sound around turns and more of a banging noise over bumps. I just can't figure out where it is coming from. How can you tell which bushings are bad? If it is the sway bar bushings or end links is there any way to tell besides just replacing it?
Sorry for the confusion earlier... I did not have the dealer do any work, I was just hoping for a proper diagnosis.
Sorry for the confusion earlier... I did not have the dealer do any work, I was just hoping for a proper diagnosis.
