Rear suspension "creaks"
Thread Starter
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 41,002
Likes: 474
From: Madison, AL
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Rear suspension "creaks"
My suspension 'creaks' when I got over bumps as low speeds. The ambient temperature doesn't seem to matter, it happens when it's hot outside too. I used to have a car that would make a similar sound, but only when it was cold outside.
It sounds like a door 'creaking' and I can't figure out what to do to make it go away.
It sounds like a door 'creaking' and I can't figure out what to do to make it go away.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 216
Likes: 8
From: Orlando FL
What year and how may miles are on your car? My can use to pop and creek sometimes, So I replaced the end-links with new solid end-links and everything has been great. The old ones were trash. I would look at them, and they are not that much $ and worth the upgrade.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,294
Likes: 2
From: Suffolk, Long Island NY
I had the same problem. I greased the sway bar bushings, tightend end links, replaced shocks, nothing. It wound up being a lower control arm bushing. Since the bushings aren't serviceable, I had to replace the arm. Picked up one from Gene at Karshop. 
Thread Starter
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 41,002
Likes: 474
From: Madison, AL
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
What kind of time/effort are we talking about? I assume I have to jack up the rear for this? I'm literate around a garage so I don't have an issue doing this myself.
I have a 1998 with 67K miles.
Thanks for the replies.
I have a 1998 with 67K miles.
Thanks for the replies.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,251
Likes: 4
Naa, it's easy. If you weigh less than 250lbs you should be able to slide under without jacking the rear up. You'll need a torque wrench tho. The upper nut is set to 49 ft lbs and the lower is set to 70 ft lbs.
Just take off both nuts on both bushings and swing the bar down. remove the bracket and slip off the bushing. with some grease on your finger tip smear a thin layer on the bushing/bar contact area in the bushing(too much will just squeeze out anyway). Do the same for the other bushing and bolt it back on.
Note: The lower nut will spin unless you reach around with a box end wrench to hold the bolt head on the other side of the control arm.
That's all there is to it.
Just take off both nuts on both bushings and swing the bar down. remove the bracket and slip off the bushing. with some grease on your finger tip smear a thin layer on the bushing/bar contact area in the bushing(too much will just squeeze out anyway). Do the same for the other bushing and bolt it back on.
Note: The lower nut will spin unless you reach around with a box end wrench to hold the bolt head on the other side of the control arm.
That's all there is to it.
