Squeaking/squishy sound coming from front suspension

[millerrh]

I've got a strange sound I can't seem to figure out what it is. It occurs when I'm driving slowly over something like a speed bump or small bump like entering a driveway. It sounds like something rubber that isn't lubricated properly.

If you saw my previous post on my coils making noises, I suspected it was the silencer rubber I added to the springs squishing around. Since I settled on some grease to take care of the issue I removed those silencer rubber pieces hoping to get rid of this sound. But the noise is still there. Now I am suspecting the Eurocode sway bushings might not be lubricated properly.

Anyone have issues with sway bars squeaking before? Or am I barking up the wrong tree here? Let me know if anyone has any tips on how to pinpoint the cause.

[RWD2quattro]

As per my previous cars, if it sounds like a old mattress (creaking) when driving slow over bumps or up/down/side ways on driveways, could be lack of lubrication on sway bar bushings. End links will develop a clunk or thump when driving over bumps. Let me know what you find.

[millerrh]

Yes you nailed the sound I am hearing. Sounds just like an old creaky mattress. It definitely has a certain bouncy creakiness to it which is why I originally thought it was the rubber things I had attached to my springs rubbing with the motion of the springs.

I was not the installer of my sways, so not sure how easy it will be to lube the bushings. Is it possible to get to them without removing the whole sway bar? Looking at the installation manual, it looks like attaching these bushings to the car is one of the last steps. Is it possible to just remove those clamps, lube up the bushings and just reattach the clamps?

I seem to recall someone posting up a thread recently about this, but a search is not pulling up anything for me for some reason.

[RWD2quattro]

You may have to remove sways to apply lube to the inside of bushing where it makes contact with sway bars. Go back to the shop and explain what your experiencing and they may do it for free. You'll never know until you try.

[Jones2012s4]

You may have to remove sways to apply lube to the inside of bushing where it makes contact with sway bars. Go back to the shop and explain what your experiencing and they may do it for free. You'll never know until you try.

This...

[drob23]

Yea, here's what you were looking for: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ion-Clunk-Gone

For the record, I haven't had any more noise since doing this myself.

[BzzzBom]

My noise, which sounds like a creaky mattress, is coming from the rear. Unfortunately, the sound persisted after removing the EC rear sways and end links. Any ideas??

[drob23]

My noise, which sounds like a creaky mattress, is coming from the rear. Unfortunately, the sound persisted after removing the EC rear sways and end links. Any ideas??

What do you mean removing? You replaced EC hardware with OEM? You could still lubricate those.

[BzzzBom]

What do you mean removing? You replaced EC hardware with OEM? You could still lubricate those.

Eurocode removed the sway bars and end links and we test drove the car - the noise persisted. It was a mild rattle while driving slow over uneven pavement. Unfortunately the rear noise continues to get worse and now sounds like a creaking mattress. I was at EF1 Motorsports in Signal Hill. Fabrizio, the owner is the guru of European car suspension. He heard the creaky noise and diagnosed it as coming from sway bar bushings. I'll report back after bushings are lubricated.

[SwankPeRFection]

How can it be the sway bar bushing if you said the bars were taken off and the noise persisted?

[millerrh]

Yeah... Totally confused by what you are saying.

[drob23]

How can it be the sway bar bushing if you said the bars were taken off and the noise persisted?

Assuming now it's the stock bushings/bar creating the problem.

Good luck getting this problem fixed...amazing how much better you feel about the car when it doesn't sound like a 95 corolla going over bumps.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

[will13k7]

I had the creaking mattress sound on one of my older cars, it was from the polyurethane bushings in the camber kit. Every time I went over a speed bump, its sounded like someone was getting it on, lol. Sometimes I even make that sound today when I go over speed bumps since it was so ingrained in my mind after living with it for years.

[BzzzBom]

How can it be the sway bar bushing if you said the bars were taken off and the noise persisted?

The mild clunking has continued but now I also have a different and louder noise which sounds like what has been described in this thread. Sorry for the confusion.

[BzzzBom]

Yea, here's what you were looking for: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ion-Clunk-Gone

For the record, I haven't had any more noise since doing this myself.

PM Sent

[rdef]

I've got a strange sound I can't seem to figure out what it is. It occurs when I'm driving slowly over something like a speed bump or small bump like entering a driveway. It sounds like something rubber that isn't lubricated properly.

If you saw my previous post on my coils making noises, I suspected it was the silencer rubber I added to the springs squishing around. Since I settled on some grease to take care of the issue I removed those silencer rubber pieces hoping to get rid of this sound. But the noise is still there. Now I am suspecting the Eurocode sway bushings might not be lubricated properly.

Anyone have issues with sway bars squeaking before? Or am I barking up the wrong tree here? Let me know if anyone has any tips on how to pinpoint the cause.

Do you also experience the sound in tight slow turns?

[millerrh]

Do you also experience the sound in tight slow turns?

No, this is generally wheels straight, slow driving. I hear it worst going out of my driveway which has a small 1" drop. Strange 1" can make that kind of noise. Also going over speed bumps does it if I go slow.

I did have low speed turning sounds (like when pulling into a parking spot). This was caused by spring binding. I have since fixed that with a rubber silencer material and grease. Originally I thought this squishy mattress sound came from the rubber parts on my springs. But I took those off in the sound is still there that's why I think it's the bushings.

[millerrh]

To close out this thread:

I took off the bushings and they were dry as a bone. The shop that installed them never put any grease on them. Should have just done these myself. I greased them up per drob23's post above and everything is silent! Finally!

I haven't had a silent suspension since I got my coils and sways installed back in January, so I am really happy now.