Creaking / squeaking of front suspension over speed bumps

[7Andrei7]

Hi all!

I've noticed lately that I have this super annoying creaking sound when I go over speed bumps in very low temperatures. Or if there is significant suspension travel. I doesn't happen all the time but it's frequent enough.
The dealer did a check-up at the last oil change and said suspension seems fine. I also raised the car and took a look underneath myself and everything looked solid.

My front lower control arm bushings (the ones in the back) were replaced a few months ago. I did not have any sound before that but also the temps were much higher.
I did do a few thousand kms in very rough (wet/snowy) conditions in the last 2 months but I don't know if this is to blame.

Anyone experiencing something like this?
Could this be "normal behaviour"?
I have the stock suspension, no ECS.
150k km.
No more warranty

 

[Snowwhite]

i had creaking with full suspension travel on the front (over speed bumps) and it turned out to be I had to lube the sway bar bushings, which I didn't do when I put in the aftermarket swaybars. Problem gone for over a year now. Check your swaybar links, make sure they are tightened to the full 80+ft-lbs, or whatever that works out to in Nm. Aside from double checking those bushings that were replaced, you might have to lube the swaybar brackets. yes, even if they're stock, after that many kilometers, it might be time to lube them up.

 

[Jaymorz]

You can't be serious - I was literally going to make a post about this today!!

Same conditions, low temperature, squeaking over bumps.

I recognize your name because I had issues with vibrations when I ran over loose debri on the highway.

Issues were resolved with a new set of wheels but suspension is still the same.
(With exception to super pro endlinks on the front - replaced just because racecar)

I'm going to try and lube the sway bar bushings just like snowwhite had recommended. Lets see where that takes me.

Is white lithium grease OK? (WD4- white lithium grease)

 

[Snowwhite]

I recommend a silicone based grease just for longevity’s sake but use what you like.

 

[7Andrei7]

I'm happy I'm not the only one!
The thing is the sounds started after a few days in 100% humidity in Norway and basically constant driving through a thin layer of water. Every morning my rotors had rust on them .
Will try the silicone grease asap and see what happens.

 

[cncBilly]

Started happening to mine a couple weeks back. I just assumed my sways need to be lubed. Haven’t got to it yet. I’ll check the end-links when I’m at it. Timely post.

 

[SaltShakerer]

I had creaking over bumps after I installed lowering springs, thought it was normal. Took it to the dealership since the vvti system failed, and while it was there, they replaced the whole lower control arm and it went away and rides better. "Lower control arm bushings abnormal wear causing noise." 37k miles

 

[BC00]

I have the same issue of creaking front suspension during low temperature conditions. No creaks if the speed is really low, but a little bit aggressiveness, more travelling and creaks are there. Not using sway bars or lowering springs, only the braces. Nothing is found by various mechanics.

 

[7Andrei7]

I have the same issue of creaking front suspension during low temperature conditions. No creaks if the speed is really low, but a little bit aggressiveness, more travelling and creaks are there. Not using sway bars or lowering springs, only the braces. Nothing is found by various mechanics.

I gave up on this and just live with the creaks. They happen when temps are really low and humidity is very high.

 

[BC00]

I gave up on this and just live with the creaks. They happen when temps are really low and humidity is very high.

Have you tried to replace lower control arm (bushings)?

 

[7Andrei7]

Have you tried to replace lower control arm (bushings)?

Yes, I replaced all 6 bushings on the front suspension (the 2 control arms on each side + sway bar). But not all at the same time.

I started with the curved control arm about 2 years ago. They were not squeaking or anything, just felt too soft.

Then the squeaking started so I replaced the sway bar bushings. This is very easy to do. I think they charged 1h at the dealer and about 100eur (labour and bushings). I would start with these if I was you. It removed about 80% of sounds, especially over speed bumps.

Then the straight arm bushings. Be careful because they need to take off the steering arms to get the bolts out. In my case, the dealer messed a sensor in the steering rack and had to replace the whole rack. I had to wait about 3 weeks to get my car back. Thankfully they paid for it but it was a 4.000 eur bill. So, definitely do it at a trusted dealer.

After this whole operation it was quiet for a few months (spring, summer, autumn) but now in winter it started again )
I once more replaced the sway bar bushings, just because it is a cheap operation and, again, most of the sound stopped.

In my case it only happens if I leave the car outside for a few days and humidity is high. It will squeak especially over speed bumps or when I am making parking maneuvers and the wheels are turned all the way left or right. It's just a short squeak but it's annoying.

 

[BC00]

Thanks bro for comprehensive answer

So you would recommend to replace stabilizer bar bushings (no. 14) at first?

https://www.kia.parts/v-2021-kia-stinger--gt--3-3l-v6-gas/suspension--suspension-components

 

[7Andrei7]

I can't access the link but it's these 2 bushings highlighted here.

IMG_7200.jpeg

drive.google.com

 

[Snowwhite]

Yes, I replaced all 6 bushings on the front suspension (the 2 control arms on each side + sway bar). But not all at the same time.

I started with the curved control arm about 2 years ago. They were not squeaking or anything, just felt too soft.

Then the squeaking started so I replaced the sway bar bushings. This is very easy to do. I think they charged 1h at the dealer and about 100eur (labour and bushings). I would start with these if I was you. It removed about 80% of sounds, especially over speed bumps.

Then the straight arm bushings. Be careful because they need to take off the steering arms to get the bolts out. In my case, the dealer messed a sensor in the steering rack and had to replace the whole rack. I had to wait about 3 weeks to get my car back. Thankfully they paid for it but it was a 4.000 eur bill. So, definitely do it at a trusted dealer.

After this whole operation it was quiet for a few months (spring, summer, autumn) but now in winter it started again )
I once more replaced the sway bar bushings, just because it is a cheap operation and, again, most of the sound stopped.

In my case it only happens if I leave the car outside for a few days and humidity is high. It will squeak especially over speed bumps or when I am making parking maneuvers and the wheels are turned all the way left or right. It's just a short squeak but it's annoying.

are you on factory sway bars? I would try lubricating with some good silicone grease before replacing them again.

 

[BC00]

Are we talking about bushings shown as no.14?

 

[7Andrei7]

@BC00 Yes, number 14 are the sway bar bushings.
@Snowwhite mine is all stock. I did try to grease the ones that came from factory but only had silicone spray. Didn't really do anything. This was before changing them the first time.

 

[Snowwhite]

@BC00 Yes, number 14 are the sway bar bushings.
@Snowwhite mine is all stock. I did try to grease the ones that came from factory but only had silicone spray. Didn't really do anything. This was before changing them the first time.

did you remove the bar out of the way to spray inside the bushings? or just spray around the edges? the spray is too thin to work for long, but it would have worked for a little bit. The stock bushings are fused to the bar, so it's kind of strange that they would make noise like that. Once you replaced the bushings, there's no way to fuse them to the bar that i'm aware of.

Aftermarket bars, yes, much easier to make noise. Mine did after install. I wrapped them in teflon gas line tape and used the silicone grease and I haven't heard a peep since, and that was over two years ago.

Also make sure the endlinks themselves are torqued to spec, it's hard to do, so then easy for them to not be tightened correctly after a repair job. That was a source of noise on my last car instead of the swaybar itself.

 

[Snicklefritz]

I eradicated the speed bump, low speed creaking from my Eibach sways by having them greased. The original install by the dealer didn't grease them!? They said "everything looks fine" when I reported the creaking, twice in fact. So, somebody is stupid or lied. Our "family mechanic" told me that those bushings had never seen a drop of grease before. I've had it done twice in two years. It's about time for the creaking to start up again, and I will have them greased a third time.

 

[Volfy]

The stock rubber bushings generally don't need any lube. That is the whole reason for spec'ing them for OEM, to minimize NVH so dealer service don't constantly get complaints. That said... like all rubber compounds, they do age and harden over time. If that gets bad enough, the rubber loses its compliance, and the bar starts to move around and make noise. Still though, those OEM rubber bushings generally last a long time. Most of the cars that I don't change to aftermarket anti-roll bars I've never had to worry about anti-roll bar bushings.

The polyurethane bushings are a whole 'nother story.

On a relatively new low-miles car, 8-9 times out of 10 the suspension creaking noise is related to aftermarket anti-roll bar(s). On an older car... lots of wear items can work loose. Bushings, rod ends, strut bearings, etc.

 

[BC00]

Just replaced sway bar bushings - sadly squeaking noises are still there

OEM bushings were vulcanized to sway bar. Not an easy task to remove.

Noises come clearly from the left side/wheel. What to replace next?