Suspension Noise
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,236
Likes: 36
From: Haymarket VA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Suspension Noise
so I have a groaning which seems to be coming from my rear suspension when I go over big bumps.
I thought it was the sway bar, so I have taken the rear sway bar off (sent it for powdercoating) and when I pulled into my parking garage at work which you have to go over a sidewalk I can still hear he groaning.
Any ideas where it could be coming from?
I thought it was the sway bar, so I have taken the rear sway bar off (sent it for powdercoating) and when I pulled into my parking garage at work which you have to go over a sidewalk I can still hear he groaning.
Any ideas where it could be coming from?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 10,247
Likes: 888
From: Hickory NC
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '17 thru '26
A little more info could help.
Age/mileage of your Vette could be a factor.
Original shocks? (I've seen worn shocks make a groaning noise)
Any recent changes such as exhaust? (exhaust pipe rubbing when body flexes over bump)
Try lubing A-arm bushings (double check the lube that won't hurt the bushings)
Undoubtedly other things not coming to mind immediately. Getting it up on a lift might help you locate the problem.
Good luck.
Age/mileage of your Vette could be a factor.
Original shocks? (I've seen worn shocks make a groaning noise)
Any recent changes such as exhaust? (exhaust pipe rubbing when body flexes over bump)
Try lubing A-arm bushings (double check the lube that won't hurt the bushings)
Undoubtedly other things not coming to mind immediately. Getting it up on a lift might help you locate the problem.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,236
Likes: 36
From: Haymarket VA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Its an 02 Z with about 65k miles on it.
As far as I know its the original shocks, and really all original from the best I can tell.
I have not made any changes to the car suspension, exhaust or anything like that.
As far as I know its the original shocks, and really all original from the best I can tell.
I have not made any changes to the car suspension, exhaust or anything like that.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,197
Likes: 190
From: ALL governments are legalized mobsters, so doesn't matter where I live :(
Groaning? It's hard to provide feedback for this one, never really heard the term groaning for suspension issues.
Good place to start though is to analyze when it started happening, did you change something and it started after, or was there but minimal, now it's louder, etc...
Good place to start though is to analyze when it started happening, did you change something and it started after, or was there but minimal, now it's louder, etc...
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,236
Likes: 36
From: Haymarket VA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Been happening since I bought the car. Finally getting around to trying to figure out what it is.
Creaking, not sure its a better term? Its loudest when I pull into work and then hear in pulling onto my drivewayas well. Going from a flat road to a decent incline, and hear it most when turning left onto these things.
Creaking, not sure its a better term? Its loudest when I pull into work and then hear in pulling onto my drivewayas well. Going from a flat road to a decent incline, and hear it most when turning left onto these things.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,197
Likes: 190
From: ALL governments are legalized mobsters, so doesn't matter where I live :(
Been happening since I bought the car. Finally getting around to trying to figure out what it is.
Creaking, not sure its a better term? Its loudest when I pull into work and then hear in pulling onto my drivewayas well. Going from a flat road to a decent incline, and hear it most when turning left onto these things.
Creaking, not sure its a better term? Its loudest when I pull into work and then hear in pulling onto my drivewayas well. Going from a flat road to a decent incline, and hear it most when turning left onto these things.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,236
Likes: 36
From: Haymarket VA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Just ordered some new control arm bushings, and while I was at it some new shocks.
Just going to work my way through the suspension. Cant really hurt, so why not upgrade a bit and troubleshoot while Im at it.
Just going to work my way through the suspension. Cant really hurt, so why not upgrade a bit and troubleshoot while Im at it.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 43
Likes: 48
From: Lebanon TN
Will be very interested to hear your results from changing the control arm bushings. I have the same creaking. Please be sure to post, along with pics, if at all possible. Thanks!
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 10,247
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From: Hickory NC
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '17 thru '26
Agree. Interested in the outcome.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,236
Likes: 36
From: Haymarket VA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
If it gets here this week I’m going to try and do it this weekend. If it doesn’t get here this week, it will probably be a little while before I can get some time.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,236
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From: Haymarket VA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
I changed the shocks only this weekend, didnt have time or the will to get into the control arm bushings. I didnt hear anything today, but I will try to remember to follow up on this in the next couple weeks to see if anything has been solved with a shock change
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,841
Likes: 158
From: chair
I had a similar issue with the leaf spring pads needing grease. You could jack up the car (weight off tires) and lower it back down and it would have moved the grease around enough to quiet down for a day or two. Keep us posted.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,236
Likes: 36
From: Haymarket VA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Just a follow up. Between the new shocks and poly bushings on the rear sway bar. The noise has stopped from the rear and now I hear it a little from the front.
So so it seems the culprit is either the sway bar bushings or the shocks.
So so it seems the culprit is either the sway bar bushings or the shocks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 46
From: enterprise al
St. Jude Donor '08
Mine makes a wimpy lil chirp sound coming from the front end when I hit a bump that rapidly compresses the shocks.. I’m thinkin’ I probably just need new shocks.. they’re still oem so I’d say it’s about time to dump ‘em
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 78
Likes: 5
From: Howard Oh
Groan ?
so I have a groaning which seems to be coming from my rear suspension when I go over big bumps.
I thought it was the sway bar, so I have taken the rear sway bar off (sent it for powdercoating) and when I pulled into my parking garage at work which you have to go over a sidewalk I can still hear he groaning.
Any ideas where it could be coming from?
I thought it was the sway bar, so I have taken the rear sway bar off (sent it for powdercoating) and when I pulled into my parking garage at work which you have to go over a sidewalk I can still hear he groaning.
Any ideas where it could be coming from?
