Creaking / squeaking after accident and repairs
Discussion
Hi all! Hope someone can help.
Ok, long story as short as possible... hit an island at relatively high speed with front drivers wheel. Immediately burst the tyre. The insurer still haven’t shared the full extent of the work done, but I know they replaced the wheel, the strut and did the tracking. Now when I drive it over bigger speed bumps there is a creaking / squeaking sound, I think from the drivers side. The garage checked it and told me it must be a noise from something in my boot.... I told them it’s the car not my hearing that is the problem and proceeded to record the sound. They checked again and lubricated something at the back which was supposedly dry... that made no difference. I also then heard it while coming round a bend to the left, but it was also bumpy... up until that point I had only heard it on big speed bumps.... particularly going up, when the suspension compresses most.
Since then I took it to my local mechanic to look. He checked their work, he said they replaced the strut and not the top strut mount (I have read that if the bearings are damaged this can cause a creak). The mechanic checked “everything”. He said the work is good, all bolts are tight. The strut is a genuine part (though he said there is no guarantee that is defective). The roll bar is good, no bends etc. He said the control arms are in good condition. There is not pulling or steering issues I can detect either. He even checked under the bonnet.... the air conditioning pipe moves, but he said no evidence of it causing any problem. The only thing he found was the boot on the strut was not attached at the top, so you could pull it down.
Wondering about the boot becoming trapped in the spring when the suspension compresses, or maybe the bearings in the top strut mount being damaged, or maybe the strut they replaced being faulty.
Apologies if any of this is not explained well. I have not learned anything about cars or mechanics till now, so this is all new to me. Although I have a mega interest, so happy to learn!
Any light anyone could shed, any suggestions at all would be appreciated!
Ok, long story as short as possible... hit an island at relatively high speed with front drivers wheel. Immediately burst the tyre. The insurer still haven’t shared the full extent of the work done, but I know they replaced the wheel, the strut and did the tracking. Now when I drive it over bigger speed bumps there is a creaking / squeaking sound, I think from the drivers side. The garage checked it and told me it must be a noise from something in my boot.... I told them it’s the car not my hearing that is the problem and proceeded to record the sound. They checked again and lubricated something at the back which was supposedly dry... that made no difference. I also then heard it while coming round a bend to the left, but it was also bumpy... up until that point I had only heard it on big speed bumps.... particularly going up, when the suspension compresses most.
Since then I took it to my local mechanic to look. He checked their work, he said they replaced the strut and not the top strut mount (I have read that if the bearings are damaged this can cause a creak). The mechanic checked “everything”. He said the work is good, all bolts are tight. The strut is a genuine part (though he said there is no guarantee that is defective). The roll bar is good, no bends etc. He said the control arms are in good condition. There is not pulling or steering issues I can detect either. He even checked under the bonnet.... the air conditioning pipe moves, but he said no evidence of it causing any problem. The only thing he found was the boot on the strut was not attached at the top, so you could pull it down.
Wondering about the boot becoming trapped in the spring when the suspension compresses, or maybe the bearings in the top strut mount being damaged, or maybe the strut they replaced being faulty.
Apologies if any of this is not explained well. I have not learned anything about cars or mechanics till now, so this is all new to me. Although I have a mega interest, so happy to learn!
Any light anyone could shed, any suggestions at all would be appreciated!
Hey! As far as my ears can determine the noise is coming from the front drivers side, somewhere around the wheel / under the chassis maybe?! To begin with the noise seemed to disappear after a while of driving (or maybe over a few bumps). But it seems to be getting more consistent and frequent the last few days. I’ll try to upload and post a link to the video somewhere now so you can hear.
It’s definitely not rear end noise. I think they were just trying to fob me off.
It’s a kind of creaking sound. I’d be tempted to say metal / rubber rubbing on something. But that’s a complete guess. It could be something moving as the front goes up and down over bumps.
It’s definitely not rear end noise. I think they were just trying to fob me off.
It’s a kind of creaking sound. I’d be tempted to say metal / rubber rubbing on something. But that’s a complete guess. It could be something moving as the front goes up and down over bumps.
There is a recording on my Facebook post... hope this is visible to everyone.
https://www.facebook.com/663637104/posts/101573987...
https://www.facebook.com/663637104/posts/101573987...
Quick google of Juke forums does point the finger at the upper strut mounting being a source of creaks, albeit mainly when steering.
I do wonder on yours whether the mounting is damaged & for what they cost why it wasn't replaced.
Another source of creaks can be the spring moving against something. I've had this on a couple of cars & only happened on larger bumps. Small squirts of lubricant on suspect areas helped to pinpoint the location.
I've no idea whether this is relevant to your year (it's the nearside but the driver's side is much the same) but this might give you an idea of what goes where:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR0nGL60eXM
If you're not getting anywhere with the garage that did the original repair then I'd suggest taking it up with the insurance company.
I do wonder on yours whether the mounting is damaged & for what they cost why it wasn't replaced.
Another source of creaks can be the spring moving against something. I've had this on a couple of cars & only happened on larger bumps. Small squirts of lubricant on suspect areas helped to pinpoint the location.
I've no idea whether this is relevant to your year (it's the nearside but the driver's side is much the same) but this might give you an idea of what goes where:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR0nGL60eXM
If you're not getting anywhere with the garage that did the original repair then I'd suggest taking it up with the insurance company.
Edited by paintman on Sunday 31st January 13:25
Justawomanwithnoclue said:
There is a recording on my Facebook post... hope this is visible to everyone.
https://www.facebook.com/663637104/posts/101573987...
It's an unusual sound. Presumably that's over a bump or something ?https://www.facebook.com/663637104/posts/101573987...
When parts are replaced, often they need to be installed loose and a final tighten when the suspension is loaded. Not everywhere does this...and sometimes it is just difficult to do this. That may leave some rubber bushes etc strained.
But it could still be a shock issue, anti-roll bar bush, or something similar. Going to be very difficult for a remote diagnosis.
Thanks Paintman and Stevieturbo for your help. And yes it is when going over speed bumps.
Appreciate it’s difficult to diagnose remotely, but all pointers are appreciated and definitely help me in discussions with the insurers and garage who repaired the vehicle.
Since my first response was “the noise is probably the stuff you’ve got in your boot” and then followed up by “we’ve sprayed something at the back which should help”, I feel like they’re either judging me as a complete idiot or a woman and therefore I naturally wouldn’t have a clue. Either way, I am determined to locate the source of the noise and have it fixed before I fully accept the vehicle back as repaired.
Thanks for your help guys!
Appreciate it’s difficult to diagnose remotely, but all pointers are appreciated and definitely help me in discussions with the insurers and garage who repaired the vehicle.
Since my first response was “the noise is probably the stuff you’ve got in your boot” and then followed up by “we’ve sprayed something at the back which should help”, I feel like they’re either judging me as a complete idiot or a woman and therefore I naturally wouldn’t have a clue. Either way, I am determined to locate the source of the noise and have it fixed before I fully accept the vehicle back as repaired.
Thanks for your help guys!
Just a quick update! The garage finally discovered the cause of the noise, with the help of Nissan. The impact on the front wheel had jolted the anti-roll bar causing it to change position and (I think I have this right) the bushes had seize a bit. They managed to loosen everything and let the bar move back into its natural position and the noise has stopped! 👍🏼
Justawomanwithnoclue said:
The impact on the front wheel had jolted the anti-roll bar causing it to change position and (I think I have this right) the bushes had seize a bit. They managed to loosen everything and let the bar move back into its natural position and the noise has stopped!
Alternatively, they tightened up the fasteners (nuts, bolts, studs and so on) with the vehicle in the air and not resting on its suspension, and when the car was subsequently resting on its suspension while being driven the bushes were under residual tension and squeaked when the antiroll bar moved in them. 9xxNick said:
squeaked when the antiroll bar moved in them.
I can't see that happening. The ARB bushes are not normally under any torsional load and the ARB should rotate freely within them. This is not like a suspension mounting bush clamped to flanges.The ARB moving sideways is far more likely and would exactly fit the symptoms.Gassing Station | Suspension, Brakes & Tyres | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff