Cold Suspension Squeek'n'Creak - fixed by dealer bushing replacement

[bacarl]

According to Kain's little write up from a while back, the Cobb and Hotchkis rear bars have slippy bushings (they're not bonded to the bar and instead use collars to hold them in place). This means that the bar would move on the ID of the bushing instead of forcing the OD of the bushing to move against the bracket.

Whether or not that would make noise too I can't say...

 

[slo03.5msp]

The sway bar moves inside the bushing. Just real quick take a piece of metal and freeze a hockey puck rub them together and you get a squeak. It happens guys it's cold out. If that doesn't do it. next time it hits 0 out stay outside all night and tell me how you feel in the morning. Your car feels the same way.

 

[bacarl]

Awh, so my whole grippy bushing theory is out the window? The OEM bushing slides on the OEM bar?

 

[blue-sun]

The sway bar moves inside the bushing. Just real quick take a piece of metal and freeze a hockey puck rub them together and you get a squeak. It happens guys it's cold out. If that doesn't do it. next time it hits 0 out stay outside all night and tell me how you feel in the morning. Your car feels the same way.

we could argue semantics on this one Bill. None of my other performance cars I've had(MR2, WRX, Integra GSR, wife's old accord V6 Coupe) ever sqeaked like the 2 Mazda's I've had. Not knocking Mazda or anything, as I <3 my car everytime I drive it, just saying.

 

[xtrememps]

we could argue semantics on this one Bill. None of my other performance cars I've had(MR2, WRX, Integra GSR, wife's old accord V6 Coupe) ever sqeaked like the 2 Mazda's I've had. Not knocking Mazda or anything, as I <3 my car everytime I drive it, just saying.

Maybe Mazda should change their advertising slogan in the winter from zoom zoom to squeak squeak

 

[slo03.5msp]

Agreed!

 

[ecniemann]

Maybe Mazda should change their advertising slogan in the winter from zoom zoom to squeak squeak

LOL!!!!

I took a co-worker to lunch yesterday and it was 10 deg outside. The first bump I hit, all I hear is crunch-crunch. I am used to it now, but she is like, "Oh my God, did your car just bottom out?". I'm like, no, it always does that below 15 deg. I was excited to show her my new intake, but the squeak-squeak, crunch-crunch stole the show. What can I say?

 

[Sport6]

Then my dealer secretly replaced my entire car with a regular 3? Oh noes! All my HP's are gone!

update: -15 today, no squeeks. And I think I still has a turbochargers. So yes, the replacement bushings exist and no, they don't make the same noise.

Hows the nonsqueakage? Gotta know if it comes back. Just so you know, I will probably ask you every week.

 

[blue-sun]

slo03.5msp - I'm gonna PM you in a sec. You guys must have just done the rear sway bar bushings, right? first big bump in the road on the way home Tuesday night and the front when squeek squeek, nothing from the rear. Maybe I can come in one day and have the front done too?

 

[LukeP]

Hows the nonsqueakage? Gotta know if it comes back. Just so you know, I will probably ask you every week.

So far so good. Although winter seems to be going through its first few heart attacks lately (hasnt gone below -10 for a while). DIE WINTER YOU BASTARD! Anyways now that I've said that I'm sure it will go into minus a million.

 

[ecniemann]

So far so good. Although winter seems to be going through its first few heart attacks lately (hasnt gone below -10 for a while). DIE WINTER YOU BASTARD! Anyways now that I've said that I'm sure it will go into minus a million.

LOL!! Where are you from? It has been below 15 deg here for over 3 weeks now. We had 1 day in that time that BRIEFLY went above freezing. Suppose to be in the 40's this weekend though. Woo-hooo, wash the car by hand baby! Maybe do some tanning in the yard!

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

I agree on the whole "Leave It Alone" mentality. It's going to make noise. The more those service techs touch the car, the more that you'll have to worry about loosening up or breaking up.

I didn't even want them to fix my dashboard rattle/creak because I knew it would only come back and (with my luck) be 10x worse.

It's just not worth them messing with the car and me worrying if the job was right, especially when i'm driving along in the cold and snow hoping everything is still cool.

The creaks/squeaks just adds character.

And as far as the "My other performance cars didn't do this" remark = There's quite a bit this car offers that they didn't either. Comfort, practicality, amenities, interior quality, decent sounding OEM exhaust, I could go on. Not all cars have this same features for a $22k car. Hell, the Cobalt is shittier and it's just a turbo'd Cavi/'Balt. And it costs more!

 

[wldchld]

silly question?? i have hotchkis bars front and rear and they make alot of squeaking. they do have ports on the bushings. what kind of grease/lube do i use to lubricate them? thanks..

 

[mike8748]

Mine started creaking last week. I tried greasing the COBB rear sway bar but I'm still getting the noise.
I've had the rear sway bar on for months w/ zero noise.
I checked the rear shock bushing and no tear.
The noise is coming from the rear passenger side.
Its really starting to drive me crazy.
Sounds just like the video posted on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y5F2rpV9oc

Taking it to the dealership tomorrow.