e-man

Hey guys. I did a search, but didn't come up with anything on point. This morning I heard a strange squeaking noise coming from the rear passenger corner of the car. When I parked, I went to the back of the car and pushed down on the bumper and was easily able to replicate the the sound. It definitely sounds like the right rear spring, and it's really loud. The best way to describe the sound is someone jumping up and down on a bed. It's been cold here in Chicago the last few days, but I park in a fairly warm garage at work and at home.

Assuming it is the spring, is it a dangerous condition or just an annoying sound that I have to live with until I can get someone to look at it? Anyone?

e

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

It's not dangerous. It's just annoying. The rubber top hat could be worn out.

Another place to look is your sway bar bushings. They sometimes squeak too.

e-man

Thanks, Henry. Would sway bar bushings squeak from pushing down on the bumper?

I replaced the shocks in May of 2006 and the top hats in the front but not the back. My Lexus dealer told me that the back top hats were fine.

Could the cold weather have something to do with it? It just came out of nowhere and it's loud.

natedahms

iTrader: (1)

I just had this same problem a couple weeks ago. It was the rear passenger side. Mine sounded like a squeek. Loud as f#$@. I could easly make it squeek by pushing down on the bumper. I had my friend push and I got under there to see if I could tell where exactly it was comming from but couldn't. I ended up spraying half a can of WD-40 on everything under there I thought It might be. It went away for a day or two than came right back. I took the tire off to get a better look but couldnt get it to squeek on the jack with the tire off so I still dont know where it was comming from. I sprayed what was left of the can of WD-40 on all the joints and bolts and put the tire back on. It took a little while but the WD-40 worked its way in there and the squeek's gone. Hopefully for good. It's been about a week now and hasnt come back.

e-man

Thanks natedahms. It sounds like we've got the same issue.

One other thing I forgot to mention is that I was out of town for the last 10 days or so and the car sat in the garage. I wonder if that had something to do with it.

I still don't understand how such a loud squeak could come out of nowhere like this.

e-man

I had the car inspected and they were able to replicate the sound from the rear passenger side without any problems. They sprayed WD-40 on all of the major suspension components, yet the sound remained. They then took a closer look and were able to pinpoint exactly where the sound was coming from. They tell me that it's coming from the shock plunger going into the shock housing and, therefore, that the shock is blown.

2 questions:

(1) Does a noisy, squeaky shock necessarily mean that the shock is blown?

(2) I just replaced all 4 shocks in May of 2006 (22,000 miles ago) with new OEM Toyota replacement shocks. The original shocks lasted 7 years/85,000 miles. How could a 1 1/2 year old shock with 22,000 miles fail (absent an accident or some other event)?

L3XOTIC

same with me. Cold past few days....suspension squeeks a bit. I had the SAME issue with my BMW when it had altered suspension also. I think its normal.... from the cold weather.... cause when i drive for a bit, it goes away...

rra640

I bet it's your bushings. Probably on the rear control arm or links. Get some white silicon spray. It comes in a yellow spray bottle and you can get it at Home Depot. This works better than WD-40. WD-40 is gone if you drive in the rain.

GRAND_LS 4

iTrader: (2)

I've been having the same problem, and its very annoying/embarrassing. Sounds like I'm driving a 82 Cadillac sometimes.