Creaking Noise

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ChrisH

Junior Member
Messages
89
Hi All,

I have a slightly strange noise which is really hard to discern and I wonder if anyone has any ideas that might speed up diagnosis. The noise is most prominent when the car is cold and hasn't been used for a period of time... I'd almost say the longer its left the worse the noise can be. I would describe it as somewhere between a creaking and maybe even a grinding noise... it's not pleasant... but it is very hard to tell where it's coming from as it seems to resonate through the whole chassis somewhat.

I was hoping it was connected to my rusty discs... but I have just replaced those (new brakes are fab btw) but the noise is still there, so it obviously wasn't that. It's not engine related... it's chassis / drivetrain. It doesn't seem to make any real difference if you are accelerating or braking... but it can be worse over bumpy surfaces. As the car warms up and you've driven for a few miles... everything quiets out and I don't really notice it again. I haven't had the car long but it was fully inspected before purchase so I would be quite aggrieved if there was major play in anything because I would for sure have expected that to have been picked up by the inspection / MOT.

I have a few suspicions reading a couple of threads... but I won't colourise opinion by listing them just yet, I'd be keen to know if anyone has any immediate suspicions based on the above description.

Thanks guys, hopefully it won't be anything too major!

Chris

P.S. To confirm this is a facelift 4200, 60k miles... generally pretty good condition.
 
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ChrisH

Junior Member
Messages
89
Conaero said:
Sounds typical of a dragging handbrake.
Click to expand...

I thought that initially too but it's definitely not the handbrake. All brand new parts (inc. discs, pads, shoes, springs etc.) and actually a tad on the lose side in terms of adjustment. Gentle applying pressure on the move also has no effect on the noise so I'm 100% it is not brake related.
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,632
Lower shock rubber bushes also seem likely. Take the wheels of and dribble some oil in there, keeping it away from the brakes obviously.

You might also be able to bounce each corner of the car to narrow it down a bit.

I have heard of aux belt pulleys/idlers or one of the components doing this. The other cold start noise can be the dual skin manifolds which stops as it warms up and expands/seals but that is a noticeably blowy exhaust sound.
 
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ChrisH

Junior Member
Messages
89
Conaero said:
Lower shock rubber bushes also seem likely. Take the wheels of and dribble some oil in there, keeping it away from the brakes obviously.

You might also be able to bounce each corner of the car to narrow it down a bit.

I have heard of aux belt pulleys/idlers or one of the components doing this. The other cold start noise can be the dual skin manifolds which stops as it warms up and expands/seals but that is a noticeably blowy exhaust sound.
Click to expand...

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the thoughts... as you and Geoff has noted... I'm thinking it is probably a bush or a seat. I have read that the shock 'seats' can go where the springs sit... and that the noise is the springs moving in the seats - is that a replaceable part or just something to grease up? Something like this would go with me not being able to really discern where it is coming from... it kinda feels quite central / everywhere but I think that is because its resonating through the chassis... the shock points would definitely cause that. Given the way it does that... I would be surprised if it was the roll bar... but I guess check all moving points is the starting point.

I would have thought a good quality spray PU friendly grease was the way forward... spray it into all joints? I take it no components have old school grease nipples whilst I'm at it?

Any more thoughts appreciated... else I will do that this weekend. Shame I didn't do it whilst going wheel to wheel on the brakes - doh.... :rolleyes:

Chris
 
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ChrisH

Junior Member
Messages
89
I doubt it's aux belt or exhaust... just because it is definitely an on the move issue that is totally independent of engine speed, load, gearing etc. Cheers
 
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