BATM4N

I had the same problem and had the shocks and sway bar replaced and fixed the problem

sigma6

Right, it's doing it's job by helping absorb shock, but it has wiggle room which is what's potentially causing the squeak rubbing back and forth instead of up and down. I highly recommend not using the oem rubber bushings, can bilstein supply you w/ theirs? It's much more thick and when you mount it you'll see it's so firm and snug that it has no wiggle room at all.

In regards to the other sound, it could be anything but my instincts tell me that if it happened immediately after you mod'd your shocks, I would look there first.

pvknight

Took the car into my trusted alignment/suspension shop today, Pacific Tire Motorsports in Redondo Beach, CA.

Found that the rear driver's Bilstein Sport had cut through the stock rubber bushing and was causing metal/metal contact, which was the loud noise that I was hearing. So much for using stock parts. The mechanic reinstalled the shock using the Bilstein metal washers and rubber bushings and both the clanging and the quieter squeek/crunch noise is gone. Changed the rear endlinks to metal as well.

Car's perfect again!... and LAPD was suggesting that these "sports cars" are just noisy.

Thanks for all the help.

sigma6

Glad to hear (mainly thanks to Mchaskell & Uncle John)! Didn't know you were in South Bay, I would've offered to come over and help you since I'm right up your alley (Hermosa). Hope to see you around.

jaxmandueagain

I have had a bad squeak in the rear of my 98 convertible. It was heard when driving but couldn't bounce the car enough to recreate on the rack. The sound was back right and occurred loudest in left hand access ramps where weight was pushed to the right side. I first found the sway bar end links worn so I replaced them which fixed the problem briefly - but was false success just caused by having the car jacked up. When the suspension settled it was back. I read this link and this weekend I cranked down the nut on top of the replacement bilstein shocks. The problem is solved.

Thanks for the suggestion everyone!