jim010

Just wondering what to look at. I hear creaking from the back of teh car when it is cold (+15 celcius or less) when going ovr bumps, but can't replicate it when I try pushing down on the rear.

Thoughts?

Jaryd21

Check the rear sway bar bushings or it might be the rear shocks.

Bert

yeah my first guess is that the cold affects the rubber bushings, makes them harder and squeakier . . . try lubricating all of them (lower control arms, panhard bar, upper control arm if you can get to it, shock lower mounting point)

houtex

15C is about 60F, btw folks. Me teh dumb for Celsius, so I needed to convert, as 15C sounds positively *freezing*... oh. Not too bad, actually!

Anyway, if it's suspension related (bouncin' up and down) then it's either shocks or bushings, with a small nod to the driveshaft in some way. Only thing you can do is get it on an alignment rack and start poking and prodding and prying at all the suspension pieces. Or on jackstands/lift and push/pull on the wheels that way.

If you've done the silly thing and put poly-poly rear control arms or sway bars or panhard bar, or... whatever other poly bushings back there... that need greasin', they'll do that. They will refuse to make any noise unless you're driving. Bouncing the car by hand doesn't make the noise. More grease is indicated. Cold makes things shrink, bushings are fun that way. Source: See setup below. Grease runs out and need moar, this will be the exact thing on Awesome. Cold makes her unhappyier even still, so more grease. She handles so much better, but man... maintaining those bushings' grease is just *so* fun... Make me wanna go stock, but that ain't happenin' ever.

That's my experience anyway, Jim. Maybe that helps you...? Of course, if it's stock setup, none of that greasin' is gonna happen, so maybe the bushings are done and replacement is in order. Either way, not a whole lot else to do about it, either grease or replace. May can spray some sort of lube on them and get them to shut up. Maybe one at a time so you can maybe identify which one it is, tedious as that'd be... Then again, maybe 2 or 3 outta the bunch is doin' it....

/...man, I get into tangents real easy... ALL THE THINGS POSSIBLE.

jim010

Thanks gents. To my eye, all looks in order down there. It is the stock set up. I didn't want to start greasing things that shouldn't be greased as I have been told that can make the creaking worse.

Bert

yeah the question about what grease/lubricant to use is a tough one . . . I have heard that some can attack the rubber bushings, not sure exactly which ones, but I think conventional grease is a no-no

and you can't get grease inside most of the bushings without taking them apart anyway; it doesn't do much sitting on the surface, except collect crud

I use silicone spray to cure the squeaks; I think it is OK for the bushings and it doesn't collect dirt

houtex

That's what I meant. Sorry for the confusion on my end.

jim010

Silicon it is!