This could get long so just wanted to warn you and apologize in advance
2013 Grand Sport Coupe; A6

Within the past couple of weeks I have noticed when the car sits for a few days and even over night, when i first drive it there is what sounds like plastic rubbing together each time seemingly when the right front wheel hits an uneven place in the road. Thing is, within two miles the sound goes away and don't hear it again until the next period of time when it sits. It definitely isn't an interior sound.

As a bit of a point of reference; remember the "old days" when we knew when to lube the front ball joints, etc. because the front suspension squeaked? That's kind of what the sound is like; but again, in this case, it goes away.

In August I had new front shocks and new sway bar end links put on (front and rear); last week I had the sway bar bushings taken off and replaced (front and rear) and even lubed them when they were put back on. Car sat indoors all night at the dealer and when I drove it the next day; no squeak. But the next morning...Squeak was just as it was before.

It's been in the 20s and 30s here but what is really strange is when I drive the car two miles or so (about the time the car warms up) the squeaking gets less and less then just seems to go away.

I had the car up on the lift the other day and found nothing that looked or acted abnormal. Pulled and pulled on things to check things and I couldn't find anything.

I have lubed the hood latches thinking it was that; nope. I have lubed the top; nope. I even put a touch of super lube on the door striker; nope.

I am beginning to wonder if it is the right front shock making noise until it gets exercised a bit then acts normal. It's not leaking that I could see.

Or, could it possibly be an exhaust mount or....I have no idea.

I know squeaks are a pain to diagnose.

Hoping perhaps someone has had a similar experience.

Taking it up to the dealer next week (Great Corvette Mechanic that I work with there) to have the front shocks replaced.

Thing is, by the time I get to the dealer the sound is gone as it isn't more than 3 miles from the house so I have never been able to have him hear the noise.

This weekend the car is down at the St. Louis Convention Center on display as part of our Corvette Display at the St. Louis Auto Show so I am curious to find out Sunday when we leave if I hear the squeak after sitting inside in a warm environment for 4 days.

This thing is driving me crazy!!!!

Any ideas where to look???

Thanks,
Slider

 

You pretty much covered everything that could and should be checked.
Look in the engine compartment at the plastic pieces to see if something is rubbing, maybe the intake bridge over top of the radiator plastic top support is rubbing or loose.
Could be a rubber coolant hose rubbing on something.
I just went through the same ordeal with the G6. I looked at everything, and finally went on the G6 forum and found that the top shock plastic protective cover for the shaft will squeak. I lubed it and it went away.
Most just take them off. I'll do that when I have a few hours with nothing else to do.

Good Luck

 

Hmmm, I checked the top of the shock and it was tight. Didn't think about the rubber insulator possibly being the cause. I didn't check the hoses, etc will do that tomorrow when I go down to the show.
Thanks for the thoughts, I will check things a bit more under the hood.

 

If the top of the C6 front shocks are tight, then there is no way the shock rubber insulator should squeak. The Pontiac G6 Strut has a hard rubber bumper/bellows that rides over the top shaft, and it squeaks when the bumper move up and down the shaft when going over bumps... I sprayed WD 40 in between the bumper and the shaft to stop the direct friction.
That stopped the squeak.

 

Good idea but I'm not sure how I would quiet a stock shock on the C6. It all looks to be enclosed and the shaft does't seem to be visible even with the suspension unloaded.

 

The Corvette C6 shock will not squeak like the Pontiac G6. I was just making a point on my first post, that I had a squeaking issue on the Pontiac that I searched high and low. It was the strut bumper that was squeaking on that car. The Corvette will not have that issue with the shocks.

Hopefully you can see something in the engine compartment that will solve your squeaky issues.

Good Luck

 

Oh, trust me, I understand what you're saying (G6 vs. Vette).

I am wondering if the bushing in the shock that keeps the shock fluid in is somehow deformed but not enough to leak. Admittedly, I don't know the anatomy of the shock but just seems like a possibility. Maybe not.

However, you brought up some key points for me to check in the engine compartment.

I appreciate your comments to point me toward what I hope is a solution.
Thanks,
Slider

 

Well, this was interesting. Turns out it was the top nut on the right side that was loose. It allowed the rubber bushing to rub against the shock mounting area under the hood.
Not sure why/how it backed off but it did. Retourqued it and checked all the others and all is quiet.