creaking and groaning C5
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 951
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville Florida
creaking and groaning C5
It seems to be getting worse. While the suspension is under a load and most noticable over speed bumps, the suspension creaks and groans.
I havent put the car in the air yet to check it out. Anything common i should look for?
I havent put the car in the air yet to check it out. Anything common i should look for?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
Front and rear sway bar bushings are the common culprit and an easy fix.. There are 2 bushings on the front sway bar and 2 on the rear swaybar. Over time the rubber gets hard and you get the creaky,skeaky, groaning sounds.. You can easily loosen the bolts and liberally spread silicone grease to the inside of the bushings. Its an easy fix.. I took my 99 coupe to a service station and it took the guy about 10 minutes to lube them up.. I did them on my 02 z06 in about 20 minutes.. I can't remembeor the torque specs.. Maybe someone will chime in, as this is a very common problem. You can do a search if not.. There are aftermarket polyurethane bushings if you plan on putting new ones on.. These will never squeak or creak
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 348
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento CA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 4
From: Concord California
Has anyone tried to just spray silicone lube on the sway bar bushing, let it sit awhile. My 99 vette just started doing that same noise over speed bumps as well. I may order new aftermarket polyurethane bushings for the front and rear to really resolve this problem. Thanks guys for the help.... what timing...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I tried lubing the bushings once and it made the minor noise into a major noise. I replaced those bushings and problem solved. I was putting a lot of miles on it so the bushings were lasting me only about 2 years.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Victoria BC
Hey guys
My car is making the same noises like crazy. The dealer greesed it for me and that worked for a while but it's back. Do you know the part numbers of these bushing and where to get them? I'm interested in these after market ones previously quoted. Thanks.
My car is making the same noises like crazy. The dealer greesed it for me and that worked for a while but it's back. Do you know the part numbers of these bushing and where to get them? I'm interested in these after market ones previously quoted. Thanks.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TEXAS
I don't know where the idea that polyurethane bushing don't groan or creak came from, if anything they are much worse than stock. Lubing them and keeping them lubed is much more critical. They probably cured a noise problem because they were freshly lubed when installed. Anyway, whatever you have...lube it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 5
From: Stark County Ohio
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 4
From: Concord California
Gentlemen, I ordered a pair Front & Rear from Zip Corvette, best price around so far, $14.95 a pair.. If your C5 is a 97-09 and stock Coup (meaning not a Z06) or upgraded suspension. Front sway bar will be 23mm and rear will be 19mm then here are the part number from Zip Corvette.
Front 23mm SU-1103......$14.95
Rear 19mm SU-1105......$14.95
Add approx. $9.50 for UPS shippment, and your good to go..
There are new polyurethane bushings. Maximize your suspensions potential with quicker responses and predictable performance each time. These bushings are impregnated with graphite to prevent SQUEAKS. Black only. Sold in pairs. Fits 97-09 Corvette.
Front 23mm SU-1103......$14.95
Rear 19mm SU-1105......$14.95
Add approx. $9.50 for UPS shippment, and your good to go..
There are new polyurethane bushings. Maximize your suspensions potential with quicker responses and predictable performance each time. These bushings are impregnated with graphite to prevent SQUEAKS. Black only. Sold in pairs. Fits 97-09 Corvette.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Victoria BC
Gentlemen, I ordered a pair Front & Rear from Zip Corvette, best price around so far, $14.95 a pair.. If your C5 is a 97-09 and stock Coup (meaning not a Z06) or upgraded suspension. Front sway bar will be 23mm and rear will be 19mm then here are the part number from Zip Corvette.
Front 23mm SU-1103......$14.95
Rear 19mm SU-1105......$14.95
Add approx. $9.50 for UPS shippment, and your good to go..
There are new polyurethane bushings. Maximize your suspensions potential with quicker responses and predictable performance each time. These bushings are impregnated with graphite to prevent SQUEAKS. Black only. Sold in pairs. Fits 97-09 Corvette.
Front 23mm SU-1103......$14.95
Rear 19mm SU-1105......$14.95
Add approx. $9.50 for UPS shippment, and your good to go..
There are new polyurethane bushings. Maximize your suspensions potential with quicker responses and predictable performance each time. These bushings are impregnated with graphite to prevent SQUEAKS. Black only. Sold in pairs. Fits 97-09 Corvette.
Awsome. I will look at these tomorrow to see if they have a Z06 version for me to purchase.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 480
Likes: 0
From: Navarre, Florida
Chris
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Victoria BC
They do, I just installed them when I did a Z06 suspension conversion on my 98. Mine creaked and popped so I had to drop the sways and use more of the white grease that is supplied with the bushings. My recommendation is to use a ton of the grease and wear disposable gloves when spreading it on cause it is crazy sticky.
Chris
Chris
Hey again
I just went onto the ZIP site. I see the rear bushings (SU-1126) for the Z06 but I do not see any listed for the front. Do the front use common bushing with the non-Z06?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Victoria BC
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Victoria BC
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 4
From: Slidell La
I didn't list part #'s. What I did was cover how I plan to test the squeek/groan on my 99. Replace the adjustable shocks to confirm the problem. I have a replacement set ready to go when my health permits.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Victoria BC
I see. Thanks for the update. I just want to get new bushings for now because they are cheap and when I bring it in to my buddy when we fix it, I will already have them on hand. I live in a smaller place so I can't just go out and pick them up if they are the problem.