Ironxcross

iTrader: (8)

This usually happens when the car is cold. It seems everywhere I drive around the back passenger side makes a creaking sound whenever it hits bumps. I've had people tell me everything from oiling the bushings to replacing a shock. Do any of you other F-body guys have this problem in cold weather?

ajsfirehawk

iTrader: (4)

I think your bushings in the rear end suspension, meaning LCAs, panhard rod, and sway bar assembly are probably the answer. How many miles on the car and do you have stock rear suspenions components or tubular bits with poly bushings?

Ironxcross

iTrader: (8)

car has 101 on it. rear suspension is stock, except for the SFCs

1996firebirdformula

iTrader: (3)

Mine does same thing when cold when its warm its fine. its the Shocks mine got 119k on it.

Ironxcross

iTrader: (8)

so its just something these cars do when they're cold?

1 FMF

iTrader: (1)

been through this when I had a rebuilt rear put in my '99.
I think the squeaks are mainly caused by the big rubber bushings on top of the coil springs on the rear. I thought all I had to do was remove the nuts holding the shocks to the rear, then I could drop the read far enough to pull the coil springs out. Clean the bushings and the metal of the car body the bushings push up into, you'll probably find a lot of sand and grit up in there. then lube the bushing, I don't think you should use oil or grease because I think it'll deteriorate the rubber, use something like a silicone like what you would use for window weatherstripping/molding.
Another source of squeaking is the metal coil spring resting on the metal perch of the rear axle. Clean that interface, I thought I remember reading of a hose mod where a garden hose was used as an isolator between the two metal parts. I used permatex ultra gray, I applied it to the axle perch, it worked great. The last source of squeaking are the bushings of the rear sway bar, panhard bar, and Lower Control Arms, lube these too and I guarantee you won't have any squeaks back there no matter what.

Adam2001WS6

iTrader: (1)

I always thought it was just the frame/body flexing. I notice this also when it's cold out. I figured it was due to the cold contracting metals and other materials. Hmmmm...

firetpi

iTrader: (1)

I had this same noise, only in certain positions. then it got worse recently, enough so i could hear it outside the car.

I had my cousin jounce the suspension and from what i could tell the LCA bushing on the body was to blame, im replacing the control arms soon

eseibel67

iTrader: (10)

Could be real simple: Hammer your fist on the spare tire and see if makes the same soud.

Joshiedoom

iTrader: (4)

LCAs..........................
http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/g...23-08_2133.flv

Dal1as

It's either your LCA bushings deteriating or your swaybar bushings need to be greased. The ones with the u clamps.

GoldBird1986

Eseibel67...that's what I was thinking...my spare squeaks and rubs all the time and it drives me nuts.

Jason72g

iTrader: (1)

126k and mine does the same thing from the drivers side rear... Bout to dive in to the suspension... New bushings all around and shocks...

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

that video should be a sticky

Joshiedoom

iTrader: (4)

LOL.


I was cold, wet and pissed when I changed mine out. Should have done it when I got the car.

JD_AMG

It was the sway bar bushings for me. When I replaced my stock sway bar with the strano bar the noises went away. Is it like an old bed mattress?

If this were true we'd have a who world of trouble with these cars. These chassis are very sound and do not flex like people like to believe.

00silver6

iTrader: (4)

thats what i think it is. mine does the same thing in and out the drive way.

you said you did sfc. you may have tightened them to much to the lower control arms.

Ironxcross

iTrader: (8)

Update:

Well I thought about whatever everyone said, but since i don't feel like spending money on bushings and shocks and springs just yet, i did a simpler thing.

I went under the car with axle grease and wd-40 and greased anything i could, several times over, did the front too while i was at it. that fixed MOST of the creaking. the creaking sound is now a little quieter. you might be right about the LCA's though, but I'm planning on switching them out to some adjustables or something. Thanks for the help guys!

Swift_01_z-28

iTrader: (1)

To be honest, almost every f-body i have ever been in makes that same creak from the rear. Everything from a 94 v6 to a 00 ss or my z28. It could be something wrong, or it could just be the curse of the creaky f-bodies.

RevGTO

iTrader: (12)

I was glad to see this thread because I was going to start one myself about it. My M6 just started doing it a few weeks ago. I jacked up the car (properly) to swap wheels and tires on it. After that, it started. I did also drive it in some snowy/treated roads out of necessity. So I was thinking I induced some new body flex by jacking it, or my shocks had gone bad (original). But you guys think bushings? What kind of lube should be used on the bushings?

BTW, my A4 car has SFC's and is driven in all kinds of weather and it doesn't creak. I thought maybe SFC's made the difference?