8 replies to this topic

[Ant]

Wow - my first post in the "driving" forum.  An achievement or what!

Right then drivers ... I have RHE coilovers all round, and every time I hit a pot hole or go over a speed bump I get an eeek eeek squeeky noise.  If I hold the springs still in my hands whilst someone else bounces the car then it stops.  Any suggestions?

Is it the springs on the seats or is the the springs on the shocks inside?  If it's the seats then I'll make up some plastic washers for either end, but if it's the spring on the shocks then it's a bit more awkward.

Someone suggested spray grease, but I don't fancy that.  The car is pretty clean, so I don't really want greasy springs and dirt clinging to them.

Ideas please.

Ant

[Andy Sparrow]

Ant
mine (at the rear) have squeaked since new, I ve tried various cures most of which only last for a few weeks, the easiest silencing method Ive found to be spraying WD40 or similar onto the shocker shiny stem not the springs, this lasts for about 2 months and doesnt, seem to attract any dirt.
I suppose we could experiment with a thicker oil but I m not sure what the longer term solution really is .....


A

[Joel]

I'd appreciate any solutions on this one too. I've not driven the car in anger yet, but I can tell the rear springs are going to squeek like hell.

I didn't know if spraying certain lubricants on to the stem of the shock could damage the oil seal?

[Les Welsher]

I took my car out for a drive on Tuesday, managed to get the wife in it for the first time .  After a 30 mile run I was driving around a car park very slowly looking for a space and noticed my front wishbone suspension was squeeking like mad, I hadn't noticed it before and you can't hear it when driving as the exhaust is so noisy.
I have sprayed lubricant on the shocker rod but the noise is still there. I thought it could be the bushes in the wishbones but if it happens on the rears then maybe not.
I have the sierra springs and shocks on the back and have no problems with them.
Ant, is the noise on yours from front or back ?

Les

[Ant]

Both, but most noticable at the back.

I know this because if I jump on the chassis at the front then the front ones squeek, and if I stand on the spare wheel carrier then the back end squeeks too.

The back is more noticable when driving, particularly over speed bumps.

I've still not got a good solution to this.  I need to investigate, but it won't happen until next weekend as I'm going to York tonight (in the 2B) and then planning to come to Newark on Sunday.

Ant

[Daz]

I had the same for quite some time.  It was driving me crackers.  It started on one corner and seemed to spread all round the car.  Eventually I tracked it down to the plastic coating on the spring squeaking on the metal shock absorber as it is so tight a fit in there.  I put a light coating of grease onto the shocks and springs about a year ago now, and have not had a peep out of them since.  Yes, they attract a bit of dust, but it is much better than driving through a busy town centre and having everyone sniggering at your squeaky car as it passes by.

Daz

[GTO]

just an idea and its worked for me in the past!

put some heat shrink around the last few inches of each spring (it needs to be a quality heat shrink not the halfords stuff)

this stops it making a noise on the seats and helps to give the spring clearance in the middle

there is a company called Raychem that sell some heatshrink called DR25 its the stuff we used

ive got some left if you are local you are more than welcome to take some

may not work but it looks neat and its gota be worth a try

[jwaterman]

I had the same problems with my units front and rear. The rear was worst.  I found that the bottom mounts had turned slightly and the bush centre line was not parallel with the trailing arm pivots.  Moved them bach and secured. noise stopped. but then decided to change units for gaz ones.  far superior ride and handling.  Just done 3000 miles in europe with out any problems with suspenssion.  Only had the alternator bearings go.  everything else was fine.  Didn't use a drop of oil or water throughout trip.  Car drove very well on the Austrian / swiss high Alpine passes. Welsh hill climb hear i come!!

all best
john

[ColinR]

I fixed a mate's Granada squeak with silicon spray.  It took a couple of days to pentrate properly, but then he had no more trouble.  I don't think it attracted crap either.