Rear Suspension Noise

[richtersand]

Hi all, I’m happy to report that the body is finally at paint with Da Bat so I’ve had an opportunity to dig into the noise coming from my rear suspension. It is definitely coming from the suspension components because you can feel it vibrate at the same time it makes a clicking noise. I recorded this audio clip (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TqQoprNpO1H_ggpEgcSIpJv486_7oHKf/view?usp=drivesdk) with the mic in the wheel well so you can hear what it sounds like.

I have about 1000 miles on the car and the sound did not start until about 500 miles in…

I’m having trouble diagnosing the cause if anybody has any suggestions. I properly torqued all the suspension hardware. The bushing sleeves were a little bit long so I shortened them. I’m wondering if I did not make them short enough, which could be the metal on metal rubbing sound.

:confused:

[svassh]

Suspension noises are the worst. I installed a 3 link conversion and had a squeeking that drove me crazy. Turned out to be the frame ends of the lower links, greased them good and squeak was gone. Can you safely put the rear frame up on jackstands and have someone else put the car in gear while you listen closely and carefully?

Safety first obviously as my suggestion above has the potential to go horribly wrong.

[CraigS]

I hear the sound but what are you doing to cause it? Did you shorten the sleeves too much? The rubber bushings should be tight in the control arms. The steel sleeves should be clamped tight between the mounting ears by the bolts/nuts. The movement should occur with the rubber bushing rotating on the steel sleeves. If you shortened the sleeves the rubber bushings may be getting clamped by the mounting ears and having a hard time rotating. I install the bushings into the control arms dry and lube the inside of the bushing, the ends of the bushing, and the outside of the steel sleeves.

[scrubs]

Fells like "name that tune." A video would help. Can you have someone else do whatever makes the sound so you can trace it?

[richtersand]

I hear the sound but what are you doing to cause it? Did you shorten the sleeves too much? The rubber bushings should be tight in the control arms. The steel sleeves should be clamped tight between the mounting ears by the bolts/nuts. The movement should occur with the rubber bushing rotating on the steel sleeves. If you shortened the sleeves the rubber bushings may be getting clamped by the mounting ears and having a hard time rotating. I install the bushings into the control arms dry and lube the inside of the bushing, the ends of the bushing, and the outside of the steel sleeves.

Thanks for weighing in. This is a very plausible explanation of what’s happening. It feels and sounds like what I would expect that rubbing to sound like. I didn’t realize that the sleeve is actually what is clamped to. I will keep investigating. Thank you!

[Pmieras]

This might help. Describes how to properly use the sleeves in suspension components.

https://youtu.be/8Ex0dGojHZI?si=RhnNlAy_HEUjTcgV

[Nigel Allen]

I had an awful squeaking problem with mine soon after getting it on the road. To help try and locate the squeak we sprayed a little bit of lube around on some of the bushings to try and isolate which one was the issue. Turns out the lube was all that was required and have never had another squeak! You have to love simple fixes.

Best of luck,

Nige

[richtersand]

Update! I think I found the source of the problem. It sounded like metal on metal, and it only makes the sound when the suspension reverses direction (if it already made the noise with the tire going down, it won't make the noise again going down, only when it goes up). Investigating the sleeves, I discovered the assembly of the upper control arm rod end is actually moving slightly.

I posted a video so you can see what I'm talking about: https://youtube.com/shorts/IJ9bwtE1UNE?feature=share

Also, here is a picture:
193056

Any suggestions on how I can tighten the nut so it doesn't rotate in the assembly? I can't turn the assembly all the way CCW to lock it in because the rod end will touch the spindle. Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

[rich grsc]

Hold the center adjusting bolt, tighten the locknut against the suspension arm.

[F500guy]

Like rich says, that should not rotate like that. Add some blue lock-tight as well to help prevent future loosening. I think the manual may say red...but I like blue on stuff like that. You can use a wrench on the flat of the heim if needed to stop it from rotating, or stick a screw driver between the flat and the aluminum.

[Ted G]

I have a similar issue and think it is exactly the same thing. Will check on that over the next few weeks along with my other 4-5 winter projects.... Make that 5-6 now.

[CraigS]

FFR has been recommending red for a long time. After I did my IRS retrofit I had the same problem. But I autocrossed the car a lot and didn't want to use red. WAnted to be able to make adjustments. I made up a large sheet metal washer and notched one part so I could bend it back over that smaller tube to lock it from rotating. Then I bent the other side over the nut. That helped but was not 100%. After a year or so I had camber close enough to ideal to weld. I double tack welded the nut to the UCA and did the same for the inner sleeve to the nut. Now to adjust I had to partially disassemble so I could turn the rodend. That was kind of a pain but I didn't do it very often.

[richtersand]

Hi guys, thanks for the feedback. My issue is not how to tighten a jam nut… that is simple enough. It’s how to prevent the assembly from rotating after the jam nut is installed. If I try to rotate the assembly fully CCW to avoid rotation, the eyelet is touching the spindle, which the manual says to not do. However, if I rotate the assembly CW so the spindle is not touched then I have some possibility of rotation (the eyelet can rotate CCW towards the spindle. Should I just tighten it down with the eyelet touching the spindle? Or somehow get red loctite into the eyelet rod receiver on the UCA? Thanks again!

[rich grsc]

If both jamb nuts are tight, the joint can't rotate. That is why it has 2