Suspension Creaking

iracer · Post by **iracer** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:02 pm

Looking at buying a 1997 NA. with 162,000km on it. Only thing putting me off is a very noticeable creaking/squeaking coming from the rear right hand (drivers side). Assume it is suspension as seems to relate to the suspension movements - braking etc. Chap says he has asked 2 garages about it and they cant find anything wrong and that it is not a problem (car just got a warrant). Said it goes away over 6okm/hr. But it is putting me off. Tried searching this forum and google but not much luck - some say sway bars, or cam bolt loose? Could it be a dry bushing - trying to figure out if its a cheap or expensive fix!
It also has a red starter button - was this standard?

Skilfil · Post by **Skilfil** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:34 pm

Starter button isn't standard for sure, as for the noise, maybe a shock mount worn or something? My Golf would creak then clunk under hard acceleration in first, turned out to be a pretty top hat I think? I got told, can't remember.

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:49 am

May have a worn or non-existent teflon washer that sits on top of the top hat?

Does it have aftermarket suspension?

iracer · Post by **iracer** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:27 am

Think its standard suspension -but I dont even really know! Car looks pretty standard - 15inch wheels
So the missing teflon thingy wouldnt be expensive would it...

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:54 am

Shouldnt be!-might be hard to find one though!

Could be easier to do a process of elimination with some dish washer/water solution [dont use oil as it may perish the bush] & spray one part at a time starting from the lowest bushing & then go for a test drive & work your way up the suspension parts untill the creak goes!

Should then give you an idea of where the problem lies.

sprsta · Post by **sprsta** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 12:47 pm

http://www.mx5forum.co.nz/viewtopic.php?t=9489

Mad Kiwi · Post by **Mad Kiwi** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 2:35 pm

I just replaced my front brakes and got rid of a weird creaking / groaning sound...

I thought it was suspension but thankfully turned out not.

iracer · Post by **iracer** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 7:49 am

Thanks for the responses - brake pads need replacing before next warrant so perhaps thats the first step and cross fingers it goes away. Will try the detergent though - thanks. What is the price for standard mx5 brake pads?
Read the post re energy bushings but dont like the sound of the firmer suspension plus no way I could do it myself and imagine a lot of time and hence cost to pay someone to do it and while they were there you'd probably want new shocks too? What do the standard bushings cost?

RMS · Post by **RMS** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 5:12 pm

I enquired about stock bushes at South Auckland motors (mazda/ford dealer) a couple of years ago and they quoted ~$1500 for the full set. You don't have to buy everything though, I think that was the combined cost of all the smaller kits.

It would be as much if not more effort to replace these than to do it with Urethane because the Urethane bushes push in easily.

Depending on the pads you buy you can pay anything from $50-$200 for a front or rear set. I have some $50 ferodo's in mine at the moment and they are really excellent (except when braking).

iracer · Post by **iracer** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 6:44 pm

Except when braking???

Mr. Shine · Post by **Mr. Shine** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 8:48 pm

Pad-wise I'd recommend TRW from personal use, and Bendix Ultimates get a generally good review.

RMS · Post by **RMS** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 10:08 am

iracer wrote:Except when braking???

yeah, they are basically the perfect pad (cheap, quiet, no dust) except that they don't like getting hot

Mr. Shine · Post by **Mr. Shine** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 12:05 pm

So basically they're actually awful when you really need them?

iracer · Post by **iracer** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 10:55 am

Well I bought the car - figured it was a good buy despite the creaking issue. Now after having driven it for more than 5 minutes, that noise is alarming! Looking at the service records, the previous owners garage has had a couple of goes at fixing the issue - replaced rear rotors, brake pads, lubed the backing plate on the pads, bled the brakes but seems to have been to no avail. Its definitely rotational and does it even if coasting in neutral.
Hoping its not a caliper that house to be replaced or diff or something. Assume the garage must have ruled out wheel bearing or suspension as they were obviously focusing on the brakes. It is only the right rear.
So who is the "House" of MX5 troubleshooting in Wellington??

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 11:08 am

Is the brake backing plate rubbing on the rotor?

Is the brake allen key adjuster wound up too much in the calliper?

Do you have worn or budget brand or incorrect pads?

Do you have standard rims or aftermarket?

A lot of NA1600's make noise on de-accelleration.

Could be driveshaft/halfshaft universals or diff.

Is it a tinny or more solid type of noise?

iracer · Post by **iracer** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 12:00 pm

Only got the car yesterday afternoon so not had the opportunity to look at things, but to be honest I dont have any practical experience with this sort of thing. I gather rear brake calipers can be problematic and perhaps I need a reconditioned one (although would have thought his garage would have picked this up?)
The rear pads and rotors were done maybe a couple of years ago but has not had a lot of Km in that time. I suspect they would have been fairly cheap ones.
As to whether its a tinny or solid sound..I would say more tinny than solid. It does seem to me like its something rubbing as the wheel rotates (like a push bike with a off-true wheel and the pad clips the rim as it goes around). Just need to find a garage that is perhaps a bit more familiar with Mx5's (in Wgtn)

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 1:51 pm

Well if its not your backing plate rubbing then it sounds like brake pad anti-rattle clips touching/misaligned.... might even be loose calliper bolts or loose wheel nuts.

iracer · Post by **iracer** » Thu Mar 01, 2012 7:08 am

Just to close this off - if anyone is interested i ended up taking it to Johnsonville Car Maintenance as suggested by someone on this forum. There were a couple of issues - one was dry suspension busings that needed lubrication, and the other was badly worn/scratched rear rotors and rear brake caliper a little loose. So two new rotors and new brake pads, and they put shims in the brake caliper to remedy the looseness. Cost $575 all up because it was 3.5 hours labour so a little more than I had hoped for! Still got the car for a good price and hopefully won't have any other issues in the short-term. Nice to drive it now without it sounding like something is about to fall off

Skilfil · Post by **Skilfil** » Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:46 am

Nice! Looks like it all worked out.

RMS · Post by **RMS** » Thu Mar 01, 2012 9:07 am

good to hear you got it sorted, makes you wonder about the other companies that looked at it though!

Suspension Creaking

Suspension Creaking

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