Suspension Creak - Coilovers LCR

[JamJay]

Hi all,

I noticed this weekend that the front drivers side is creaking when going over bumps in the road, it sounds like a 'rubber' creak if that makes sense, not metal on metal (but I could be wrong). This happens when I crawl over a speed hump but also with bumps in the road surface at slow speed, say under 15mph. When the car gets up to speed, 20mph+ then the noise is completely gone and for example, a trip onto a rather uneven section of the M25 yesterday caused no noises at all.

The top mounts and bearings are new and so are the front wishbones including all bushes.

So what do you think it could be?

I hardly use the car so excessive abuse won't be the cause and I've not hit anything hard. I think I heard this noise a little while back, shortly after fitting the coilovers but has since become more audible with the freezing temperatures.

Maybe it's a case of whipping off the wheel, jet washing the components of dirt and regreasing?

Any info much appreciated, I'd like to put this noise to bed on the weekend.


Thanks

 

[EmDee]

I would say

it's a case of whipping off the wheel, jet washing the components of dirt and regreasing

i can't imagine it'd be anything that a bit of grease wouldn't sort

 

[rsmith]

What caused creaking on my top mounts was the garage not using the correct torque settings and not greasing the mounts, i had to take them off and refit them.

 

[JamJay]

Thanks for the info guys. Any idea what the torque setting is? I can't remember how I dropped the strut now...undo the top mount with the wheel jacked up?

 

[wayne lcr]

could also be the anti rollbar bushes as mine does this. and there on the way out.

 

[rsmith]

its 60nm or 44lb/ft, But as Wayne said, check other things before this as its a pain to do.
http://noahlh.com/car/coilover_howto/
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=166838&highlight=adjusting+coilover

 

[J@mes W]

i had exactly the same thing with mine, basically its the top rubber top mount squeaking on the underside of the strut. I fixed mine the weekend, it's been driving me fvcking crazy. you need to drop the strut enough to allow you access to the upper rubber face of the top mount. Give it a good clean then grease it up!

 

[Klone]

Mine does this, and it's driving me INSANE... exactly the same problem as your's Jam... started with the old coilovers and has got louder with the new ones

 

[t0m]

Can't say I've heard this with mine.. But as I'm going to a mates later tonight and know for a fact there are about 10 speed humps on the way, I'll test this out and let you know if I get the same thing.

 

[Faisal]

iv got the same noise, it sounds like its bouncing when i take bumps - its my antiroll bar bush rubbing since my cars so low now

 

[JamJay]

Thanks for all of the replies, really appreciated . I am going to discount the ARB bush because when the passenger side one went, it knocked as well but I won't rule it out completely. I know that I need to drop the undertray to have a proper look so it's a job for the garage when I get a chance to use it.

I'll regrease the top mount I think as I have a feeling that I may have forgotten to do that, I just need the special tool to remove the nut on top...I think.

 

[JamJay]

Hi all, just to follow this up I can confirm that this is the O/S FARB bush even though I thought otherwise. There is roughly a 3mm gap between the bar and the ID of the bush so I will be replacing both bushes ASAP with poly bushes. For the time being I have pumped it full of white grease and the noise has stopped.

 

[Faisal]

Hi all, just to follow this up I can confirm that this is the O/S FARB bush even though I thought otherwise. There is roughly a 3mm gap between the bar and the ID of the bush so I will be replacing both bushes ASAP with poly bushes. For the time being I have pumped it full of white grease and the noise has stopped.

so it is the same issue as mine then. if it might help, iv put poly bushes on mine but it still rubs...

 

[JamJay]

Strange that yours still rubs, I've lubed mine up well and it has completely stopped so perhaps you need to remove the bush, regrease and refit.

 

[cupra r. ash]

Yeh was gonna say that. Mine squeeked and it was because they was dirty and dry so gave them a clean and a lube. And whala, happy days

 

[Faisal]

hmmm il have a look, the noise has gone away mostly now, but if it returns il regrease it when the weather gets better

 

[JamJay]

I think a lot of it has to do with the weather Faisal, all this moisture, freezing temps road salt are doing nothing for the underside of cars. If you get a chance, pressure wash the underside of the car to clear some of the crud. My front struts & arms were pretty black even after only the few miles that I do in my car.