Rear Suspension Squeaking

[LA4]

So I've had a rear suspension squeaking noise while going over bumps for a couple weeks now. Past searches led me to assume it was a control arm bushing or something along those lines.

I pulled off the wheel today and found this. Hoping someone can tell me what it's called, and how important it is to the operation of the shock absorber... and if it's safe to drive around on this until I can get new parts.

Everything else seems fine and I'm thinking this has to be the source of the noise.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0S...ew?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0S...ew?usp=sharing

[Davdraco1]

My shocks looked the same way when I replaced mine. If you push on what ever corner of the car that shock is for and the car bounces up and does a couple times, the shock is most likely bad, replace. I also had a squeak in my rear suspension and it turbos out it was the upper control arm bushings. I had to replace my shock mounts bc mine where unsafe to drive on anymore, I took that long bolt out and the bushing fell out of the control arm. I doubt your squeak is from the shock itself, but still good to replace.

[walky_talky20]

Those shock pictures look fine. I think your squeak is most likely the upper control arm bushings. The inner ones. They are cheap, but fairly annoying to deal with. Not as bad as the lower/outer camber bushings!

[LA4]

Those shock pictures look fine. I think your squeak is most likely the upper control arm bushings. The inner ones. They are cheap, but fairly annoying to deal with. Not as bad as the lower/outer camber bushings!

Okay good to know. I will start with the bushings then. I assume the easiest method to replace is to remove the spindle and then press them out, or does anyone make a good tool to do them with the spindle in the car?

[walky_talky20]

Not the ones in the spindle. That would be the outer bushing. Your issue is most likely the 2 inners on that upper A-arm.

[LA4]

My shocks looked the same way when I replaced mine. If you push on what ever corner of the car that shock is for and the car bounces up and does a couple times, the shock is most likely bad, replace. I also had a squeak in my rear suspension and it turbos out it was the upper control arm bushings. I had to replace my shock mounts bc mine where unsafe to drive on anymore, I took that long bolt out and the bushing fell out of the control arm. I doubt your squeak is from the shock itself, but still good to replace.

I've done the "bounce test" and they seemed fine which is why I thought it was odd. I think I'll proceed with the bushings first.

[walky_talky20]

You can probably confirm by having somebody bounce the car while you put your hand on it (if not dumb low). Or you can reproduce the squeak, then cover them in some kind of spray lubricant and if the squeak is gone, you've got the right place. You can also do a close visual inspection of the bushings. They basically come unbonded from the metal casing or the rubber gets completely torn and stuff.

[LA4]

Not the ones in the spindle. That would be the outer bushing. Your issue is most likely the 2 inners on that upper A-arm.

Like the 2 that connect to the shock mount? This part?
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...ch/8d0505185a/

[walky_talky20]

Yep, that's it.

[LA4]

Yep, that's it.

Cool, that's a lot cheaper than new shocks. Thanks walky.

[ElSabio182]

If that doesn't solve your problem, you might want to consider checking your swaybar bushings...definitely if you happen to have an aftermarket swaybar with poly-mounts. They need to be lubricated periodically or they start squeaking over speed-bumps and whatnot.

Source: my swaybar bushings are currently creaking like a mother******...but since the passenger-side of the 034 swaybar mounts are suuuuch a bitch to remove, I'm kinda just living with it for now. The OEM ones are super easy to remove.

[Davdraco1]

If that doesn't solve your problem, you might want to consider checking your swaybar bushings...definitely if you happen to have an aftermarket swaybar with poly-mounts. They need to be lubricated periodically or they start squeaking over speed-bumps and whatnot.

Source: my swaybar bushings are currently creaking like a mother******...but since the passenger-side of the 034 swaybar mounts are suuuuch a bitch to remove, I'm kinda just living with it for now. The OEM ones are super easy to remove.

I was reading your post and about halfway thru I thought to myself, clearly he's never tried greasing the 034 set up. It took me hours to install mine. It's NEVER coming out. But good info!

[ElSabio182]

I was reading your post and about halfway thru I thought to myself, clearly he's never tried greasing the 034 set up. It took me hours to install mine. It's NEVER coming out. But good info!

Seriously, the setup is so needlessly complicated. Had to loosen the gas-tank AND the subframe to get those last bolts aligned. Then spent an hour or so just tightening down that ONE bolt on the passenger side (you know the one I'm talking about) with an open-ended wrench 1/4 turn at a time, because you can't fit a socket or a box-end wrench on it. What a PITA.

I actually bought a new set of the metal c-shaped brackets (the ones that hold the bushings) from 034, and I'm going to try drilling holes into them so I can install grease fittings. You'll notice that the bushings themselves already have those holes cut into them...most of 034s setups for new platforms come with holes in the metal brackets for grease fittings. But they opted NOT to do that for the B5 setup because....reasons.

Frankly, I'm not even sure if grease fitting is possible because of how close the damn thing is to the gas tank! Getting annoyed just thinking about it...

[Davdraco1]

I could not for the life of me get that bolt threaded in so I cut the head off of it and threaded it in from the other side and ended up using a nylon locking nut I had laying around. I also had to go by stubby wrenches and like you said, maybe a 1/4 turn at a time. I didn't mess with the fuel tank or subframe at all and I cut my hand up every time I used the wrench. As far as grease goes, I've been running it for a year, maybe 8,000 miles and no noise comes from it. I'm not too worried about the poly.

[ElSabio182]

I've been running it for a year, maybe 8,000 miles and no noise comes from it. I'm not too worried about the poly.

[Davdraco1]

It's going to squeak then.

[walky_talky20]

On my 034 RaSB, mine never squeaked (I greased upon install), but the bushings did wear out.

I made a thread about replacement bushing availibility here: 034 Solid Rear Sway Bar - Replacement Bushing Availibility

Interestingly, the replacement bushings are greaseable and come with brackets that have grease fittings built-in. These are made by Energy Suspension.



I would think these Energy brackets would be easier to install because they are thinner steel instead of the thick aluminum 034 piece, but I've not tried them myself.

Non-greaseable type is also available.

[ElSabio182]

Walky...have I told you lately that I love you?

That's stellar info, thanks for sharing. If I can get exactly what I'm looking for at a cost of $20 damn dollars, that's exactly what I'm going to do. Those look about 100% easier to install, since you don't have the "channel" that the bolt sits it...so I can probably get a socket on them.

Still not sure if those grease fittings will rub up against the gas tank, but that's a chance I'm willing to take.

Sidenote from looking at your old thread: Photobucket can go fuck itself with a pine cone. Thanks Photobucket, for tanking about 15 years worth of forum posts in a pathetic attempt to squeeze new money out of your now-terrible hosting service.

[walky_talky20]

Walky...have I told you lately that I love you?

Aww...shucks. ;)

[Davdraco1]

If they are standard greas fittings there are 90* fittings available that 1) might fit better, and 2) you'll actually be able to get a grease gun on them.

[ElSabio182]

Yup, I'm going to see what the deal is when they show up, will try to slap some 90* fittings on there. But worst-case scenario, it'll still be a ton easier to get them on and off if I have to lube the bushings the hard way every year or two.