1998 Trans Am owner at wits end! Help Please!!

**anthony10301** · 03-11-2008, 03:52 PM

Hello all,

My names Anthony.

I own a 1998 Trans Am and i am being driven INSANE by it. There is a noise, a squeak coming from the rear of the car.

I've tried/checked the following...

1) tightened all the bolts holding the wing on the trunk, even the ones hidden by the plastic mold covering the metal on the interior of the trunk.

2) literally stripped the trunk bare and tightened anything i could find.

3) had the shocks and springs checked and everything lubed to within an inch of its life.

4) i adjusted the rubber screws on either side of the hatch and played with the position of the actual latch.

5) taken out the spare tire, thinking it was just rubbing on the metal.

All this and a few i forgot about and nothing stops this damn noise.

Its really killing me because aside from that noise and a small rip in my drivers seat the thing is perfect.

Does anyone have a thought or maybe had this noise happen in their car?

The only thing i have left in way of an idea is the hatch needs to be reset OR the rear fender is not set properly or loose and that is what is moving.

Again, any ideas or help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

**red99ws6** · 03-11-2008, 03:58 PM

control arm bushings...mine has the same squeak but i only here it when i am going really slow and hit a bump

rapter34 · 03-11-2008, 03:59 PM

have you checked you exhaust hangers?

**anthony10301** · 03-11-2008, 04:07 PM

What are the control arm bushings/where are they?

Yea, this noise is weird. Sometimes i can hit a bump at high or low speeds and hear nothing other times its constant and worse when a bump is hit. Living in NY guess how many bumps there are as opposed to smooth roads.

I haven't checked the exhaust hangers. Personally at least. When i asked my mechanic to lube it and check the springs i asked him to check the whole rear end out. Didn't mention anything.

Thanks guys.

**nuttyprofessor** · 03-11-2008, 04:09 PM

I second the control arm bushings....have you tried spraying some kinda lube at them to see if the noise goes away....

**anthony10301** · 03-11-2008, 04:13 PM

OK, i will check it out. But what/where are they? I am really ignorant in regards to cars, sadly.

Thanks for the help guys. Keep it coming please!

**INMY01TA** · 03-11-2008, 05:05 PM

Find where the squeak is coming from, then tighten that up.

**blkSS98** · 03-25-2008, 10:16 AM

Did you ever find the control arm bushings? If not there are two short stamped steel arms coming from the bottom of the rearend to the car body and they have rubber or polyurethane bushings in them those are the control arm bushings.

**JoshieDoom** · 03-25-2008, 09:05 PM

Ive given up at fixes noises till i get sfc.... lol Im going to spray everything down tho now that i have read this.. lol

**408WS6** · 03-28-2008, 06:18 PM

Fortunately I can't hear any squeaks or rattles over the whine of my 12-bolt and the roar of my 408! I have to turn the stereo up full blast just to hear it. Man am I lucky. LOL

**wnmech** · 03-29-2008, 06:30 AM

I agree with the control arm bushings. Every few months I have to lube mine to quiet the car down. Can these be purchased at the local parts stores? I checked with GM and they want to sell you the whole overhaul kit.

**LarryMow** · 03-29-2008, 04:47 PM

I had one helluva squeek in my hatch area, but after I moved the trunk latch down a bit to make it shut more snug...the squeek was gone. Oh yeah, some spray silicone or white lithium grease on the trunk seal also worked well.

**JoshieDoom** · 03-29-2008, 07:56 PM

Ive got that issue right now..

**GatorSS** · 03-29-2008, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by JoshieDoom

Ive given up at fixes noises till i get sfc.... lol Im going to spray everything down tho now that i have read this.. lol

Get some silicone spray with the little plastic nozzle tube, and get some rags ready because it's a little dirty down there. Next, loosen the bolts a little bit on one mount so you can open a little space between the bushing and the control arm.

Try to get the spray tube in the little space you opened and spray away (a little is enough, and make sure your eyes & face are protected from the possible over spray). Try to get that silicone spray in there from as many directions as you can. Get up and wiggle your car a little just to get a little flex around that bushing to help the lube get into all the tight little spaces.

Go back under the car and spray into the little space again. Repeat the shaking again, if necessary. Tighten that side back up again and move to the other side and do the same.

That should do it.... until it dries out again.

**0rion** · 03-29-2008, 11:17 PM

the control arms are also really easy to pull out. Just pull them and lube the crap out of them or replace them altogether with aftermarket arms that have zerks fittings so you can grease them.