Wierd groaning noise from suspension...

**StuntmanMike** · 03-05-2011, 03:26 PM

Anyone have any ideas on this?

I have this wierd groaning sound when I go over bumps or uneven pavement. It sounds like it's coming from right behind the doors, and it's pretty loud.

It seems to do it worse when it's cold. I thought it was shocks, but I've replaced the rears with Koni 3rd gens towards the end of the summer, and have maybe 2k miles on them.

I just drove the car the other day for the first time in a few months, and the noise just struck me as being really loud.

It's not really a squeek or a rattle, it's a longer duration that that. Best way I can describe it is as kind of a groan.

I'm not even sure it's a suspension noise actually, but what else could it be?

Thanks!

**Knight** · 03-05-2011, 03:33 PM

Could be the springs. If possible, have a friend push down on the car while you look under it to see if you can locate the source of the sound.

**StuntmanMike** · 03-05-2011, 06:56 PM

Thanks, I'll check that out. I don't see how coils could make noise though. Maybe not the springs themselves but worn isolators? I'll check it out when I'm looking at it, but is it possble something is rubbing on the coil if the spring has shifted a bit for whatever reason?

Since you mentioned it, I remember a friend had that prob with his Jeep a few years back. Rotating the coil on it's perch a bit fixed the problem.

Someone on another board also suggested LCA bushings, I'm going to check those too.

**c5z28** · 03-05-2011, 07:17 PM

grease the sway bar bushings, my rear one likes to grunt from time to time. The o.e's have a fiberglass layer that when worn out will make noises.

**Knight** · 03-06-2011, 04:15 AM

^ Good idea too.

**Smittro** · 03-06-2011, 04:39 AM

Sounds of a 10-bolt dieing....imho

**StuntmanMike** · 03-06-2011, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by Smittro

Sounds of a 10-bolt dieing....imho

Please explain....not sure what you mean.

It doesn't make noise under power, and no vibes or wierd noises coming from the back, other than the creak/groan noise. It only makes noise when the rear suspension is working, and there are no steady whining or grinding noises.

How could it have anything to do with the axle?

**0rion** · 03-06-2011, 07:25 AM

could be a lower control arm issue back there....normally those will pop but if a bushing is done or something like that it could creak. Can you replicate it at will? If so try to spray wd40 on one bushing at a time in the rear suspension and see if you can get it to stop.....you'll have your culprit then.

**StuntmanMike** · 03-06-2011, 11:46 AM

Thanks for the advice. I'm thinking the LCA's are def worth checking. Next time I spend some time with the car I'll take a look at the bushing and spray them down.

I can replicate the problem by going over bumps, but as far as doing it by bouncing the car up and down in the driveway, I haven't tried.

If it's time for LCA bushings, are ILE's a good upgade as opposed to going to poly? I'd really rather not do poly.

**Smittro** · 03-06-2011, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by StuntmanMike

Please explain....not sure what you mean.

It doesn't make noise under power, and no vibes or wierd noises coming from the back, other than the creak/groan noise. It only makes noise when the rear suspension is working, and there are no steady whining or grinding noises.

How could it have anything to do with the axle?

It was a guess..

The first discription reminded me of sounds that bad rear ends sometimes make..

Hard to get anything from a discription of a sound..

Could be anything really..