ALTA + RDR = squeaky rear? - motoring|underground

lotoole3 · #1 05-09-2006, 08:11 PM

All -

I have ALTA springs and the RDR rear swaybar on my 06 MCS, and have had them on there for a little over a year. Lately I've been getting a lot of squeaking... can't pinpoint it, but it's definitely something in the rear suspension, under the car. Not tire rub. I can make it happen by pushing down on the rear bumper...

Anything to check? Anything to lubricate? Any other ideas?

Dave · #2 05-09-2006, 08:15 PM

The rubber rear swaybar bushings need to be cleaned and greased between the bushing and the rearswaybar.

CANYON MINI · #3 05-09-2006, 09:25 PM

My Mini's back end has made some nasty squeaking noises before. I shut it up by tightening the sway bar end links, they seem to loosen over time. Check those babies for sure!

Cheers, Bob

rjive · #4 05-14-2006, 06:06 PM

Canyon & Dave have some great possible fixes for that problem! Have you done that? Did it fix the problem?

iDiaz · #5 05-14-2006, 09:12 PM

Yeah, it's most likely caused by a lack of grease in the swaybar bushings. The bushings lubricate the swaybar as it rotates, so you need to re-lubricate them about once a year to keep them squeak-free. Why don't any swaybar manufacturers provide maintenance-free bushings like the factory does?

rjive · #6 05-14-2006, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iDiaz

Yeah, it's most likely caused by a lack of grease in the swaybar bushings. The bushings lubricate the swaybar as it rotates, so you need to re-lubricate them about once a year to keep them squeak-free. Why don't any swaybar manufacturers provide maintenance-free bushings like the factory does?

Good point. I don't recall why I didn't re-use the stock bushings... Why didn't I do that? Did anyone else re-use the stock bushings? Isn't there something doesn't work with the bigger bar? Damn, give it 6-8 months and I forget a lot!

Nardo · #7 05-15-2006, 12:31 AM

well... i'd pick polyurethane bushings over mushy mush rubber

iDiaz · #8 05-15-2006, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldCountryMini

Good point. I don't recall why I didn't re-use the stock bushings... Why didn't I do that? Did anyone else re-use the stock bushings? Isn't there something doesn't work with the bigger bar? Damn, give it 6-8 months and I forget a lot!

A larger bar won't work with the small hole on the stock bushing set.

iDiaz · #9 05-15-2006, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nardo

well... i'd pick polyurethane bushings over mushy mush rubber

True that, but the stock bushings aren't really that bad.

rjive · #10 05-15-2006, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iDiaz

A larger bar won't work with the small hole on the stock bushing set.

That'd probably be a good reason! I was thinking about that after I posted it... It looked kinda stupid, but I figured I'd just leave it... we all get a little fade everyone once in a while.

iDiaz · #11 05-15-2006, 05:34 AM

Eheheheh, all good.

Dave · #12 05-15-2006, 05:47 AM

The stock bushings aren't infallable. I had squeeking with my stock bar and stock bushings (on my MCS). A good cleaning was probably all they needed, but I still added a little grease while I was in there anyway.

lotoole3 · #13 05-15-2006, 05:55 PM

Canyon & Dave - Thanks for the tips!

I figured it was the bushings, and I got under there and squirted them with some lithium grease without removing them, in the hopes that it would penetrate. Guess not.

I'll get to it soon (this past Mother's Day weekend was a little busy) and post results.

lotoole3 · #14 05-23-2006, 05:04 PM

Well, I finally got some time this past weekend to get under the car, and I got the bushings off and lubed (what a PITA!), and...

... still squeaking. Ugh.

Anyways, I had an appointment with Eric at Helix yesterday afternoon. After installing my 17% pulley (hooray!) he took a look at the swaybar and also my sticky short throw shifter, and fixed both no charge.

When I went out of the country for a month this past February, my car was due for regular service and a replacement transmission, and I had a pile of parts from Christmas waiting to go on the car. I left the car at the dealer while I was away to have service done and parts installed.

Apparently, when my dealer installed the swaybar, they negelected to lube the bushings at all, so the bushings are dried out. They will need to be lubed again in about 6 months. Perhaps at that time I'll just get new ones.