Rear Suspension Sqeaking After Bushing Replacement, Found the Answer - not the trailing arm bushings Options

[nick mironov]

After finding one rear bushing had failed, I replaced all of the rear bushings with a new Elephant re-greaseable polybronze bushing kit (including the shafts). The rear suspension still squeaks (not the front) I was under the impression that the Elephant bearings would cure the squeaking.

What else is there that could be sqeaking?

Nick

[nick mironov]

I think that I figured out where the squeaking/binding comes from...

The Elephant Racing poly-bronze re-greasable bushing/spindle kit is not the source of the binding or noise.



I removed the rear shock bolt that attaches the shock to the trailing arm and the trailing arm moves smoothly and quietly up/down (both trailing arms are smooth). It is well greased.

I am pretty sure that the noise must be coming from the bushing/sleeve at the bottom of the shock, although I could not recreate the sound with the car on jackstands.



I have rather old Bilstein shocks and I suspect that the rubber sleeve is not rotating freely around the metal sleeve ash the trailing arm goes up/down. There is a small angular change between the trailing arm and the shock as the trailing arm moves. The sleeve shock sleeve is fixed in place when the shock is bolted to the rear trailing arm, and the rubber bushing should slightly rotate around the sleeve when the trailing arm goes up/down. I don't think that it is freely rotating and is the cause of the squeaking/creacking sounds.

I understand that any squeaking/creaking/binding has a direct effect on the responsiveness of the suspension and thefore the car's handling.

Maybe it's time for new rear shocks...

Nick