Suspension 'Squeaking' Over Small Bumps

[ShadowPoundr]

Looking for any kind of help with a recent issue I've been having.
Currently my car is lowered on Eibach Springs, with Whiteline Endlinks, and the Eibach Front Sway Bar, and when going over bumps at lower speeds (35 and lower) I hear quiet to loud squeaks, that don't seem to happen when at more freeway coasting speeds (55 and up)

I have checked every bolt possible that I can think would relate to this issue. I've greased the bushings plenty to where it was flowing out of the bushing, I've made sure the lock nuts on the endlinks are still holding good, and tight and checked to make sure the bushing on the endlinks were not damaged. I've turn the wheel back and fourth both at a stop and while going at speed. Tried pushing down around the front end of the car to create the sound but seems it only happens when the tire is 'dropping' down into the smaller bumps in the road.

I saw another post with a user talking about the cold temps maybe effecting something but seems that thread died off with nothing coming of it.

So, I'm wondering if anyone else has any ideas of what could cause this? (Lower control arms/bushings, struts going out?) Or some ideas on how to solve the issue as I've tried everything I could think of.

 

[socalvn]

Did you grease the polyurethane bushings on your sway bars when you put them on? Sounds like a dry bushing, probably squeaking

 

[Reldas]

I have the exact same issue...eibach spring with whiteline sways and endlinks. Im convinced its the bushing on the swaybar since if i put it in sports mode the noise almost goes away but in eco/comfort its really really noticeable. At my next service i am going to get them taken off, re-greased with proper lube as the stuff it comes with is shit and then put them back on.

 

[ShadowPoundr]

Did you grease the polyurethane bushings on your sway bars when you put them on? Sounds like a dry bushing, probably squeaking

I used the grease provided as well as a much better grease a few days after just to really get them good and lubed. So I don't think that would be the case. When I had used my grease gun I put enough into it where it was coming out well past the sway bar itself from where the bushing is.

I have the exact same issue...eibach spring with whiteline sways and endlinks. Im convinced its the bushing on the swaybar since if i put it in sports mode the noise almost goes away but in eco/comfort its really really noticeable. At my next service i am going to get them taken off, re-greased with proper lube as the stuff it comes with is shit and then put them back on.

Yeah while I am in sport mode I noticed it is still happening however not nearly as bad as when in comfort, which luckily I don't use to often.

 

[Reldas]

I used the grease provided as well as a much better grease a few days after just to really get them good and lubed. So I don't think that would be the case. When I had used my grease gun I put enough into it where it was coming out well past the sway bar itself from where the bushing is.

Yeah while I am in sport mode I noticed it is still happening however not nearly as bad as when in comfort, which luckily I don't use to often.

I cant think of anything else it would be other than bad or lack of grease for the bushing. Did you fully clean everything before putting more grease on or did you mix the grease?

 

[NS_Stinger]

I always wrap my sway bars with teflon tape where they will contact the poly bushings iys always worked well for me.

 

[ShadowPoundr]

I cant think of anything else it would be other than bad or lack of grease for the bushing. Did you fully clean everything before putting more grease on or did you mix the grease?

Cleaned and re-greased with the better stuff after I heard the squeaks.

I'll try adding more to the bushing but I feel how much I have used it should be well coated. Maybe it just needs some more driving around to fully get the grease around the bar as I am using the small grease knob to get the new grease in.

After another full day of driving I'll give an update to see if anything changes.

 

[Volfy]

How are you regreasing the bushings. Not having grease nipples was about the only thing I didn't like about the Whiteline bars. I had to drill and tap the brackets to install grease nipples.

 

[Snowwhite]

I always wrap my sway bars with teflon tape where they will contact the poly bushings iys always worked well for me.

i did this with mine. they are silent. use the yellow thicker teflon tape for gas lines, not the white plumbing one.

aside from this, perhaps the endlinks need to be adjusted a little tighter? and, have you given thought to the brake pads or retaining clips making the noise? try to see if you can still hear the noise if you are braking when you go over the bumps.

 

[ShadowPoundr]

How are you regreasing the bushings. Not having grease nipples was about the only thing I didn't like about the Whiteline bars. I had to drill and tap the brackets to install grease nipples.

I am using my grease gun on the grease nipples (Since the Eibachs have them). I am seeing the grease spread all around until it starts overflowing from the bushing. So I would like to think that everything there is good.

i did this with mine. they are silent. use the yellow thicker teflon tape for gas lines, not the white plumbing one.

aside from this, perhaps the endlinks need to be adjusted a little tighter? and, have you given thought to the brake pads or retaining clips making the noise? try to see if you can still hear the noise if you are braking when you go over the bumps.

Might have to look into this.
Currently bringing it into a shop to get an opinion from them and see what they "recommend"

I also found another post on here saying that if a ball joint is going out it can make "god awful squeaks when driving" Now I have put a fair amount of stress on the car as I have tracked it, done multiple road rallies in it, and many spirited drives. So, there might be the chance that I somehow wore the ball joint area down faster than normal.

 

[Reldas]

I am using my grease gun on the grease nipples (Since the Eibachs have them). I am seeing the grease spread all around until it starts overflowing from the bushing. So I would like to think that everything there is good.

Might have to look into this.
Currently bringing it into a shop to get an opinion from them and see what they "recommend"

I also found another post on here saying that if a ball joint is going out it can make "god awful squeaks when driving" Now I have put a fair amount of stress on the car as I have tracked it, done multiple road rallies in it, and many spirited drives. So, there might be the chance that I somehow wore the ball joint area down faster than normal.

keep us updated on what the shop says

 

[GT Elite]

The OP said he has installed Eibach lowering springs. I wonder if the spring is not fully/properly seated and the spring is moving/turning in the spring seat as it is compressed and/or expanding over bumps and pot holes.

 

[Snowwhite]

The OP said he has installed Eibach lowering springs. I wonder if the spring is not fully/properly seated and the spring is moving/turning in the spring seat as it is compressed and/or expanding over bumps and pot holes.

that is a possibility. I'm on eibachs and I don't have any noise from them whatsoever, but I installed them myself. Only way to ensure a quality install.

 

[Volfy]

The OP said he has installed Eibach lowering springs. I wonder if the spring is not fully/properly seated and the spring is moving/turning in the spring seat as it is compressed and/or expanding over bumps and pot holes.

Not likely. The rear springs are normally under a preload, even with the suspension articulation extended all the way. The front springs are captured in the strut assembly with an even greater preload. Unless the install was a complete cluster F*, neither F or R springs should ever be loose enough to move in the seats.

 

[ShadowPoundr]

Just wanted to give an update on the noise.

After having a shop look into it they found nothing wrong with the springs, sway bar, ball joints, or the bushings.
The only thing that they had pointed out was that the endlinks looked a little off. I took the car home, and went to go look and sure enough some how after driving with the adjustable endlinks for almost 6 months they had adjusted from their orignal set length, to a more extended length. (only the bottom one for some reason.)

So I got them readjusted to the proper length, got everything tightened back up and sure enough the noise stopped. I didn't think to actually look at their length when I was under regreasing the bushings, so thats just my fault.

Thank you to those that gave me ideas to look at, and hope this helps with others that have the same issue in the future.

 

[cncBilly]

Very interesting! I have been getting a squeak lately as well however I only have the Eibach sways front and rear with stock endlinks. I’ve been thinking it’s the sways need to be greased. Going to have the car up today to do the oil and am planning on greasing up the sways at the same time. Hopefully that fixes my squeak. Keep ya posted.

 

[cncBilly]

Ok was under the Stinger the other day and greased the be-jesus out of my front eibachs. I greased until gobs oozed out wiped it off and greased some more. Squeak Gone happy days!

 

[Snicklefritz]

'under the stinger', that's the problematic part for me. I have the shop's assurance that both front and rear sway bars are greased. but I still get creaks that are audible at low speeds.

under the Stinger

 

[cncBilly]

'under the stinger', that's the problematic part for me. I have the shop's assurance that both front and rear sway bars are greased. but I still get creaks that are audible at low speeds.

That’s exactly why you have to do things yourself. I highly doubt a shop would go to the extent I did re amount of grease used wiped off and regrease again.

 

[Volfy]

Greasing those bushings doesn't feel the same as greasing the typical bearings, ball joint, etc. Because there is little to no gap - shouldn't be anyway - it takes a heavy hand to squeeze the grease into the bushing. Besides, you have to works the anti-roll bar a bit to distribute the grease, before regreasing some more. I doubt most shop hands would have the patience to do it right.

Yeah, it's a bit of a hassle, but that's the price we pay for improved handling. Anyhow, I drilled and tapped for two nipples on the front bushings to make the process a bit easier.