Creaky front suspension

[pwd95]

Anyone else had this? Irritating more than anything, I know the bushes and springs etc are new, last year Mike? If I grab the anti roll bar while someone puts their weight up and down on the suspension I can feel it clonking. Is there anything that maybe needs greasing or something? There is no wandering or strange behaviour it turns in and handles as good as when I bought it. Just this irritating creaking over undulations.

[350zwelgje]

Had a noise like that, and it turned out to be a broken front spring. And as it goes, these springs have to be checked regularly. Not a big job to replace the springs, and opportunity to upgrade to stiffer if necessary (heavy duty RT for example, and worked a treat in my case).

Rob

[mikeb]

The front springs are new uprated RT springs!.

The creaking noise when going over bumps is the anti roll bar moving slightly in the anti roll bar bushes.

I used to spray a little WD40 on them and the issue will stop (for a while), it only seemed to happen when they were bone dry.

MikeB

[grahamw48]

Hmmm - mine does that too, after just having had those same springs
( also adj.shocks, compliance bushes and balljoints ).

Nice to know "they all do that".

[350zwelgje]

You should be ok then. Anti-roll bar is bit of a 'thrown in' design. So it could be just the bushes making noises.
For me the bar: I am always checking as with front wheels of the ground it looks like it must be able to touch the springs. But no noises, and no signs of touching either until now.
Mike, if the bushes are ok...., try to live with the noise (I have rattling brake pads, hate it, but intend to live with it as there are no problems - was considering pressure retaining valves as used by Steve Heath....).

Rob

[wedg1e]

mikeb said:

The front springs are new uprated RT springs!. The creaking noise when going over bumps is the anti roll bar moving slightly in the anti roll bar bushes. I used to spray a little WD40 on them and the issue will stop (for a while), it only seemed to happen when they were bone dry. MikeB

I used silicon grease on the Esprit ARB bushes, less likely to cause the rubber to perish.

[mikeb]

They aint rubber fella. The anti roll bar bushes if memory serves were changed for hard polyurethane(?) type black stuff jobbies a few years ago.

Also I can live with the noise as it's now Wyn's car!.

MikeB

[pwd95]

Isn't the internet a wonderfull thing
Thanks all

[SEvans]

I believe that using any oil/mineral based products on plastic makes them swell up. Not sure if poly bushes fall into this catagory but I would be inclined to use silicone spray or Krytox grease.

[cuneus]

Yep they all do that sir, got the same setup and had to drive over some humps at angles to find it was the right front (I thought it was coming from the rear!)

Silicone spray cured it (for a while)

[shpub]

Also worth checking for cracks in the chassis where the front suspension mounts are located on the front cross beam.

Just spent a couple of days repairing these on the 520 down at Tower View.

[grahamw48]

No creaking on mine now, just MUCH better handling.

[mikeb]

The handling on My old / Wyn's new 350i when the bushes and springs were changed was amazing.

Also the full 4 wheel alignment afterwards helped as well. The car turned where I wanted it to go! - the only pisser is i now gotta do the same job on the 450SE ! - Hey ho.

MikeB