Having a squeaky suspension can be one of the most frustrating problems to have in any vehicle. Every time you go over even the smallest bump or make a turn, you have to deal with the squeaks and creaks of your suspension. Speed bumps can become embarrassing and, although it’s good exercise, you park as far away from the door of your office building as you can so no one hears you pulling into your parking spots.
Why is My Car Squeaking? Is it a Sign of Bigger Problems?
Squeaky suspensions are not just embarrassing, they can also be an indication that there is a big problem with your suspension. Besides the annoying noise, a broken suspension system in your vehicle can increase the likelihood of rollovers, make it difficult to control your vehicle in corners and can increase your stopping distance in an emergency. Suspension issues can also cause your steering geometry to be incorrect which can lead to increased tire wear and difficulty negotiating turns. The setup of your vehicle’s suspension is extremely important as is explained in this extensive article about steering geometry.
A squeaky suspension system is not just embarrassing with those squeaking noises and grinding noises, but it is also dangerous and can be extremely difficult to diagnose and fix. Your vehicle’s weight is supported using coil springs, leaf springs or torsion bars. You also have a shock absorber by each wheel and in most cases a sway bar or anti-roll bar both in the front and in the back. There will also be control arms, struts, steering linkages, tie rods, and/or track bars linking the wheels to the vehicle. Each one of these components have a joint on each end that could be the source of your noise. There are three types of joints commonly used in your suspension components.
Ball Joints
Ball joints are used when the joint must be able to move in multiple plans such as rotating and moving up and down. For example, the joint at the end of your lower control arm that connects to the steering knuckle needs to move up and down as the spring compresses, but also turn as you turn the steering wheel. Ball joints are much like your shoulder or hip joint where a stainless steel ball fits in a Teflon cup and provides the range of motion and rigidity needed. Ball joints sometimes have grease fittings in the cup and a rubber boot containing the grease. If the boot rips these joints can start to make squeaks when you turn. If you find a ball joint with a torn boot, consider replacing it.
Bushings
Bushings are used if the joint only needs to move in one direction, such as up and down or side to side. Bushings are the most common joints in your suspension system and also the most likely to case a squeaky suspension. Bushings are basically rubber sleeves that go between the frame of your vehicle and the suspension component which allows the suspension component to rotate. Bushings can squeak if the rubber becomes torn or even dried out or if the suspension component starts to rotate inside the metal sleeve inside the bushing due to incorrect torque or a broken bushing. Worn out bushings cause more movement which in return causes those squeaking noises as well as incorrect suspension geometry. If you suspect a squeaking bushing, try spraying a small amount of lubricant on the bushings to see if the noise goes away temporarily. If it does, consider replacing the bushing. For an even quieter ride, consider using polyurethane bushings.
Rubber Mounts
The last type of joint used is a simple rubber mount. These type of joints are used if only a small amount of motion is required and are much like engine or transmission mounts. These types of mounts are often used on the rear side of lower control arms. If you suspect a squeaking sound coming from a mount style joint, simply check for tears or try spraying it with penetrating oil to see if the noise temporarily stops.
In some cases, these mounts or joints may be integral to the suspension component so you may need to replace the entire control arm or shock absorber just to replace a single joint or bushing. When you’re replacing shock absorbers, it’s always important to replace them in pairs (both front or both rear) to ensure even and predictable handling from your vehicle.
Other Reasons Why Your Car is Squeaking
There are other causes of squeaking in your vehicle besides the common suspension joints listed above. One cause could be related to the serpentine belt. It is common for this belt to lose grip on one of its pulleys causing the dreaded squeaking noise. This is usually a simple fix to get your serpentine belt or tensioner replaced. Another cause of squeaking can be related to your level of power steering fluid. It is very typical for your car to start squealing when making a turn when your power steering fluid is low. You should check the fluid levels of many things in your car and especially the power steering fluid in this case. If you have a leak, you may want to look into our Power Steering Stop Leak product. In this case, a fix might be as cheap and easy as topping off your levels.
For more great articles on how to care for your vehicle, visit our blog and use the search function to find an article that talks about the problem you’re having with your vehicle! From this page, you can also ask The BlueDevil Pro specific question about your car or truck!
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81 responses to "Why Do I Have a Squeaky Suspension?"
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I have been hearing a squeaking sound when i get into my 2001 dodge ram 1500. I also hear a whining noise when i turn the wheel stopped and for example pulling into a parking spot. I took it to a repair shop thinking it was the power steering pump. They advised this was incorrect and changed a leaky Power steering hose($225). I rode around for a couple of days and the noise returned. I decided i was gonna take it into the shop to have them relook at it. While driving later that night I noticed my abs and Brake light came on I saw how to reset it by turning off car and turning on car and pumping brakes for 10-15 times. This did not fix it as it had in the past. checked fluids and all full and fine. I then heard the ABS motor or pump still running after the car was turned off. The shop is saying that its a suspension issue and possibly the control arm. He wouldn’t tell me a price to fix it instead says he will show me when coming in. Could the Squealing and abs motor running be connected? Could they have hit the abs control mod when changing the hose and messed it up? Is there a easier way to fix the control arm (ie. lubricating it etc)
Michael-
Thanks for your questions about your 2001 Ram! The Whining sound you are hearing when pulling into your parking spot does sound like it is related to the power steering pump. If you had a line leaking, then you likely had a low fluid level which was causing the whining. We would recommend regularly checking your power steering fluid level to make sure there are no more leaks. If you find a leak, use BlueDevil Power Steering Stop Leak to seal the leak and make sure you system is safe. You can purchase BlueDevil Power Steering Stop Leak here: http://store.gobdp.com/power-steering-stop-leak-00232/. It is possible that everything with your power steering system is working properly and you still hear the whining noises. Some power steering pumps will work fine for a long time even if they make noise.
The squeaking noise when you get in, combine with your shop saying you need a new control arm sounds like the bushing on your control arm could be worn out causing a metal on metal sound when your suspension moves. If the noise you hear when turning your steering wheel is more of a creak than a whine it could also be coming from this problem as well. For more information about squeaky suspension problems and how to diagnose them, checkout our article about that here: https://gobdp.com/blog/squeaky-suspension/.
Lastly, your ABS and break light coming on is likely due to a bad wheel speed sensor. These sensors measures the speed at each wheel to tell your computer if one wheel is beginning to skid so the ABS system can release the brake on that wheel. If one of those sensors is broken, the computer will think that wheel is skidding and activate the ABS system. Those sensors can be difficult to test and the ABS computer often needs a special tool to diagnose so you may need to take it to a dealership to get that corrected.
Thank You!
-BDP
I have a 1997 Mustang Cobra and I have a squeak in the rear suspension. It sounds like metal hitting plastic or possibly other metal, not a rubbing squeak but more like a hitting/banging noise. It happens whenever I go over the slightest bump at half a mile an hour or 70 mph. It doesn’t happen when I’m taking a turn hard or any progressive suspension travel, only when it is a shock to the car, like a pothole or speed bump. I’ve heard various things like its the control arm hitting the subframe, or I don’t know what. The car has been lowered and it does have after market exhaust, which coincidentally rattles against the subdrame as well, but it’s not that, its a different, lower pitched sound. Any insight? Thanks
James,
Thanks for your question about your Mustang. Since it’s lowered it could be any number of things. Even though you said it isn’t the exhaust, it could be a different part of your exhaust hitting the frame or suspension components. To check that, you could have a friend drive behind you and watch your exhaust tips as you go over a speed bump to see if the pipes are hitting anything.
It could also be your suspension hitting the bump stops depending how much it has been lowered. There should be rubber bump stop above the knuckle or control arm to keep the suspension from compressing too much. With lowering springs, your suspension may regularly be hitting the bump stop. The best thing to do would be to jack up your car so the suspension can sag and look for worn or shiny spots on the frame, control arms, shocks, and wheel wells.
I just got a SUV a Nissan eXterra, and it sounds like a squeaky bed…lol as I drive into the parking lot or even over bumps….would this be the bashing??
Squeaky-
Thanks for your question about your Nissan Xterra and congratulations on the new car! Based on your description of the squeaking you probably do have some worn out suspension components, most likely bad bushings. Your Xterra has leaf spring suspension in the rear end and leaf springs often times can make the kind of sounds you are describing so that may be a good place to start. If you haven’t already, a great place to start is our article about squeaky suspension here: https://gobdp.com/blog/squeaky-suspension/. Also, if the suspension seems softer than it should for an SUV you may also need to replace your shock absorbers to keep the suspension from flexing so much during normal driving. If your ride feels bouncy or you can easily push up and down on a corner of your car then it is probably time for new shocks as well.
-BDP
I have a 1995 Pontiac Formula Trans Am and I’ve had a squeak in the front of the car. Took it in to a mechanic and he told me that the front lower bushings needed replaced. He showed me the problem. I had him replace them and still had a squeak. We checked the suspension out real close. Above the coil spring is a piece of rubber. It keeps the coil from having metal to metal contact. The coil spring was moving in the rubber and was moving just enough to cause the squeak. The only way I know how to fix the problem is replace the rubber or lube it real good. Nice Car
Road Runner,
Thanks for your comment and great work tracking down the source of your squeak! In this case, lubing this rubber mount may help for a while, but since your car is a little older, chances are that rubber is much harder and more brittle now than it was originally meant to be. If lubing it helps the squeak then you know you’ve got the right component, but for a long-term fix you are probably going to have to replace that rubber mount.
hi i have a Mazda Atenza 2005 160,000kms (99,419.4 miles) and squeaks at the RH rear suspension when driving over bumps and pushing down on trunk, i have gas shockys so can’t tell if its that, also squeaking has recently started
Cheers
Dan,
Thanks for your question about your Mazda Atenza. Since you said you hear the sound on bumps and when pushing down on the trunk you definitely having a squeaking suspension component. Your Mazda has a very complex rear suspensions system with quite a few rubber bushing that could each be causing the problem. The best way to check to see where the noise is coming from is squirt penetrating oil on each rubber bushing one by one and bounce the car in between. When the noise stops, you’ve found the culprit! Many Mazda Atenza owners have found the rear sway bar bushings to be the culprit so you might start there.
i have a 2006 infiniti m35. i just replaced all four struts and the car still squeaks. it sounds like it is coming from the front driver side. i have lived in a complex that has speed bumps and i can hear it every time i go over them. what do you think it could be?
Robert,
Thanks for your question about your M35. If you’ve already replaced your struts and the squeaking hasn’t changed then the most likely culprit would be a swaybar bushing or control arm bushing. Try bouncing your car while a friend listens for exactly where the squeak is coming from. Sway bars usually go bad before control arms so we would recommend starting there.
I have a new 2014 Toyota Tundra with new suspension. I have a squeaky noise in front end. Sounds like shocks. Why would it start squeaking if everything is new? I did take it to beach and washed it afterwards but suspension still squeaks.
Victor-
Thanks for your question about your 2014 Tundra! With vehicles as new as yours we always recommend trying to get repairs done under warranty. If your warranty doesn’t cover this or your new suspension voided that warranty, then the next thing to check is the torque on all the bolts on the new suspension. Bolt torque is very important when installing new suspension. If the bolt is too loose then the component may be able to move around under load allowing the rubber bushing will squeak. If it is too tight, the bushing may be pushed outside of the hole it is supposed to rest in again rubbing when it moves causing a squeak also.
-BDP
I have a 2005 hyundai santa fe, and on the front left tire it make a squeaking noise and there was a recall on my front spring coils. Could that be the cause of the noise.
Diff-
Thanks for your question about your 2005 Santa Fe! It is possible that the recall on your front springs are causing the squeaking noise you are hearing. Your springs are mounted to your wheel and your car using rubber mounts so the spring can move and adjust as the suspension travels when you go over bumps. The recall on your springs should replace those rubber pieces and may quite down your squeak. You may also consider mentioning it to the mechanic who is doing the recall as it may be a different problem but something he can quickly and easily fix while he’s doing the recall work.
-BDP
Great info, wanted to get your expertise on some issues. I have a 2001 2.3L Ford Ranger that sounds like it’s having a suspension issue. The front right side hisses when turning, not it “clacks” when turning, going over bumps sounds like metal cracking. Taking it to the shop pretty soon, but I’m use to DIY everything and wanted to see what you thought. Thanks
Alex,
Thanks for your question about your 2001 Ranger! The metal cracking sounds most like a bad ball joint so you might start by checking your lower control arm on that side. If you have a large pair of pliers you can check the ball joint by squeezing it with the pliers while that side of your truck is jacked up off the ground. If you get movement, the joint is worn and needs to be replaced. The hissing sound you are describing is a little more difficult to diagnose. If the sound is coming from your wheel, it could be a worn valve stem on your tire or a crack in the sidewall of your tire if they are old letting air out slowly just when you are turning. If the sound is coming from your engine it could actually be a vacuum leak. Since its associated with turning, it might have to do with the idle up system on your power steering pump. Check for a loose or broken vacuum hose around your power steering pump.
My 01 Nissan Sentra makes a creak noise when going over bumps? Any clue to this….Second question is: Checked radiator coolant today and in between the MIN and MAX and I had filled it about a month and a half ago…does coolant burn off or did it lower because it’s leaking somewhere? Thanks
FannLu,
Thanks for your question about your Sentra! Usually if you’re having a creaking noise it is from a dried out rubber bushing. In your case, I would start by checking the bushings on your front control arms and front sway bar. Coolant shouldn’t burn off, but it will slowly evaporate. You have to make sure you always check your coolant with the engine at the same temperature, usually either completely cold in the mornings or after at least a 20 minute drive to make sure it’s at full operating temperature. Your coolant will expand and contract as it heats and cools and that can make the level fluctuate quite a bit.
I have a 2003 Ford xscape I just started getting some squeaking when I accelerate sounds like it’s coming from the front wheels only time it stops is when I come to a stop it whines down and then when I Go it starts again had the brakes checked nothing seems to be wrong. My mechanic Cleaned them told me to see if that helps and I’m still getting the horrible squeaking noise when I Drive. what could this be from?
Cecy
Cecy,
Thanks for your question about your Ford Escape. It is still possible that your front brakes are causing the problem. Besides being cleaned, the back of the brake pads and caliper slides should be lubricated. If these are sticking they could cause your brake pad to drag causing the squeak you’re hearing. The other possibility is that you have a wheel bearing going bad. Try reading this article to see if any of the symptoms sound like the problem you are having: https://gobdp.com/blog/bad-wheel-bearing/
Hi, I have a Ford Mustang 2002. I’m trying to figure out why my car is squeaky. Everytime I turn or go over the tiniest bumps it makes the squeaky noise, very loud. It’s only the passenger side that makes the noise. If i put pressure on it, it will squeak. Im not sure if I just need a ball joint or if i can fix it with a ball joint dusk boot? I was told by tire kingdom it was my ball joint back in August. Also, my friend the mechanic said by hearing it, its the ball joint. I don’t want to go pay the money for a ball joint to find out it’s the rod bar or bushing or whatever. Also, my passenger side got hit by a sign (behind headlight and above tire) so theres a dent which is making my side panel push to the door frame. Theres rust kicking out of the wheel which damaged my steel rim n side paint. First I assumed it was my tri rod but since its only the passenger side what’s your input? If the ball joint, can I replace the dusk boot or buy brand new?
Thank you!
Pamela-
Thanks for your question about your Mustang. If you’ve had two independent people tell you it’s your ball joint, then that seems like it is the case. Worn ball joints are not an unusual problem on Mustangs, so it seems like a likely cause. If you have a torn dust boot on that ball joint then you should replace the whole joint anyhow. Without the dust boot road dust will quickly get into the grease and the joint scoring and marking the ball quickly wearing it out. Unfortunately, in this case you cannot simply replace the dust boot, you have to replace the whole joint.
Thank You!
-BDP
I have a 2006 toyota tacoma 4×4. When I go over bumps, hop in and out of the truck, climb into the bed of the truck or even just driving, I have this terrible squeaky sound coming from all for corners of the truck. When i push down on the truck it makes the sound too. Do my bushings need to be replaced? About 3 months ago I had my shocks and struts replaced on the truck.
Marc-
Thanks for your question about your 06 Tacoma. If you haven’t yet, check out our article about squeaky suspensions here: https://gobdp.com/blog/squeaky-suspension/. Using the WD-40 technique can help you find your squeak point so you know what needs to be repaired or greased.
In your case, the squeak is probably coming from your rear leaf spring bushings. The stock bushings on your leaf springs and shackles unfortunately do not have grease fittings. You can try removing the bolts from the shackles and front of the springs and adding grease to them and the bushings to see if you can quite them down. You can also check them all just to make sure the rubber is not cracked or torn. If you do decide to get new bushings you may consider getting greaseable bushings or bolts to help keep them quiet in the future.
Thank You!
-BDP
Hi, great info on this site. I’m I quiring about my 1999 GMC Jimmy, I hear a terrible squeaking/squealing every time I drive. No matter what the terrain. The tiniest bump makes it happen. I believe it’s the control arm bushings but I’m not too terribly knowledgeable on suspension parts (removal, replacement). Was wondering if you knew maybe step by step on how to properly change bushings or the entire control arm? Or direct me to a site that does? Much thanks!!
Bobby-
Thanks for your question about your 1999 GMC Jimmy! If you haven’t yet start by checking out our article about squeaky suspensions here: https://gobdp.com/blog/squeaky-suspension/. Start by spraying WD-40 on different suspension components and going for a quick drive until you get your squeak to sound differently. This will help you identify the problem component so you know what you need to change.
In many cases, like control arm bushings, or ball joints you have to replace the whole control arm and the new arm will come with new bushings and joints. For information on how to complete the replacement you can check for forums on your truck like gmcowners.com or blazerforums.com. Also, the next best place to search would be YouTube. Just make sure you the information and pictures you find there match exactly to your year, make and model truck. If you want to make sure you do it right, get a repair manual for your Jimmy. This is the best way to go as it will have the correct torque specs and procedures. A manual like Haynes or Chilton can give you all the information you need to do the job right.
Thank You!
-BDP
I’ve just had the front shocks replaced on my 2001 Peugeot Boxer campervan because they’d gone solid; but about 2 days later, we noticed creaking coming from the passenger side when going over speed bumps. Is there a problem with the new shocks or is another component worn, do you think?
Keran
Keran,
We’ve found that often when problems pop up right after maintenance was done, that the problem is related to the most recent work completed. In your case, it is very possible that the creaking you are hearing is related to your new shocks. If the shock bushings weren’t greased before being installed or the bolts were not tightened to the proper torque it could definitely cause a creak or a squeak as you go over bumps. We would recommend taking your van back to whoever replaced the shocks to have them check the bolt torque first. If there are any other problems they should be able to see them easily while tightening the shock bolts.
Thanks!
-BDP
I’ve had the control arm(s) on my 2007 dodge caliber replaced quite a few times, including just recently. now the car is squeaking over every and any bump and its really loud! i’m also hearing a banging noise from the front when I turn my steering wheel. I assume that its all related. could it be related to the NEW control arm? if so, then I’m hoping its under warranty of the part and I might avoid some repair costs!!
Christine-
Thanks for your question about your Dodge Caliber. It seems like the noises you are hearing and problems you are having are not uncommon for other Caliber owners. It seems like these cars wear through control arms and tie rods faster than most cars so it may be possible that your control arms do need to be replaced already.
Another common problem on the year Caliber you have is worn tie rods and those can cause clunking in the front end as well so it may be worth having your mechanic check those out as well. Hopefully the parts are still under warranty so the repairs won’t cost much.
-BDP
I have a 2006 Lincoln LS. I have embarrasing loud squeking when hitting bumps and even when pushing down and bouncing the back end. Anything unique about this car? Am I in for something expensive?
Dave,
Thanks for your question about your Lincoln LS. To figure out for sure where you squeak is, the WD-40 trick mentioned in this article should help you. The most common cause for squeaks on the Lincoln LS is the rear toe bar. The other common problem spots for that car are the upper ball joints and the lower control arm bushings. Unfortunately replacing any of these parts can get a bit complicated as it usually requires removing the shock and some difficult bolts so you may have some high labor charges associated with this repair.
Great article! My 2011 Honda civic sedan makes a small squeaking noise when I drive at 5mph or on the highway. When the road is very smooth it goes away. During my last oil change the mechanic said he wouldn’t rotate my 1 year old tires because they are worn in a way that would make a strange noise. He recommended new shocks/alignment. Could this also be the cause of the squeaking noise I hear?
Luis,
Thanks for your question about your Civic. First, we would definitely recommend rotating your tires even if you ended up with a little more road noise. Since your front wheels do that majority of the braking and are also for steering and acceleration, your front tires will wear much more quickly than your rear tires. Rotating them regularly (every oil change) will help you get the most life out of all 4 tires.
As for the squeak, it could be affected by your alignment but it would more likely be affected by your shocks. Most shock manufacturers recommend replacing your shocks every 60,000 miles but many people will wait until they are completely broken before replacing them. Since an alignment will help your tires last longer, we recommend you starting there. If you still have a squeak after the alignment you can try replacing your shocks to fix the problem.
I have a dodge journey 2011. I have a cranking noise from the rear suspension on the driver’s side while driving. It’s an annoying sound as it is louder when I am driving at low speed. It is not necessarily associated with bumps on the road and it is also present when I get off the car or when I unload something from it. Could the spring be the cause for this noise?
Thanks..
Imteyaz
Imteyaz,
Thanks for your question about your Dodge Journey. The noise could be coming from the shock mounts, the spring or one of the bushings on your control arms. Check for loose or cracked rubber components in your rear drivers side suspension. Also, a few Journey owners have found an intermittent noise coming from the parking brake cable clamp rubbing on the rear cross member. Try locating the parking brake clamp near the rear cross member and seeing if there are any rub or wear marks.
I have a 2000 Ford Explorer. 11 months ago I had to replace upper and lower ball joints on both sides. Now, within the past couple months, my Explorer makes a squeaking noise when turning the wheel, or going over any bump, big or little. When there’s a ton of rain, and everything underneath is wet, the noise goes away. Would this be in any way related to the ball joints? Shortly before the noise started, I had a complete oil change, where they check everything, and nothing was found to be wrong with anything. This is the same place that found my ball joints were bad 11 months ago. Some people are telling me this is common after ball joints are replaced and it just needs to be greased. Does this sound right?
Katie,
It is possible that this squeak is coming from your new ball joints and they need to be replaced. You can check your ball joints for grease fittings and if they have them, then you can certainly try adding grease and seeing if that helps the squeak. Since you mentioned the sound goes away in the rain, it would also be worth checking your swaybar bushings and your lower control arm bushings as those commonly squeak on your year Explorer and are down at the bottom of your car and would be the first thing to get wet in the rain.
I have a 98 honda prelude. The rear squeeks like an old bed on both sides of the car. The squeeks happen when driving over bumps in the road or uneven ground or just anytime the suspension flexes it seems. Also when car is parked and i pushed down on either side. Ive also noticed the squeeks get noticably louder when braking harder. Ive just replaced the suspension with megan racing coilovers in an attempt to fix this thinking the squeeks are in the strut mounts but did not stop it. My mechanic noticed my upper control arms in rear need to be replaced so im about to have that job done hopping it will finalllly fix the squeeks. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!!
Taylor-
Thanks for your question about your 98 Prelude! The squeaks you are describing do sound like a worn suspension component somewhere. When you had the coilovers installed did the squeak change at all or did it stay the same? If the squeak changed at all then the issue is probably with one of your control arms, either upper or lower. If the squeak stayed the same after the coilover install, then you might check your rear sway bar bushings and end links to see if they’re causing the squeak. If you suspect a bushing is causing the problem you can always try shooting it with WD-40 and giving your car a bounce and seeing if the noise changes. If it does, you’ve found your culprit.
-BDP
Hi, I have a creaking noise in my Honda Accord ’04 EXV6. I hear it especially when pulling out of my driveway trying to pull in or out of a parking space. I also hear noise when slowing down to come to stops at red lights. I have had a shop check it out several times and they claim they don’t find anything or know what it could be. I had brakes fixed initially due to the grinding/creaking was similar to this and had to get a new brake caliper because a bolt broke. The only thing the shop sees is that there is a small gap from where old brake fitting fit against rotor, but I have then same sound getting more frequent prior and now after that brake replacement. I’d love to have any suggestions since I’m not getting answers from a shop that specializes in Honda and tired of being told they can’t find anything when it does it daily. It is embarrassing when pulling out of parking spaces especially, and is obvious that it is coming from my front suspension. Thanks for any help!
Thanks for your question about your Accord creaking. Usually if your shop is having trouble finding the culprit, it is simply due to a worn or dried out rubber suspension bushing. Based on your description it seems most likely the noise is coming from a lower control arm bushing or sway bar bushing. The best way to find the creek would be to use the WD-40 trick described in this article: https://gobdp.com/blog/squeaky-suspension/.
Simply spray the different bushings with WD-40 and drive your car until the creak goes away, then you know you’ve found your trouble component.
-BDP
I have a 2005 Chevy Tahoe and have new brakes, shocks, bushings and I still have a squeak in the front end of my car and it is very annoying any ideas what else I can have checked. Appreciate the help.
Sabrina
Thanks for your question about your Chevy Tahoe! If you haven’t replaced your sway bar bushings, you might try replacing those as well. In the front end of your truck, your motor and radiator are both supported by rubber mounts so it is possible that your squeak is coming from one of those. Lastly, it is remotely possible that the squeak is from a loose body bolt so you may check the bolts that hold your fenders to your radiator support and the ones that hold your bumper on.
Thank You!
-BDP
Hey I have a 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse and every time I steer my car left or right it makes a squeaking noise and whenever I bounce on the right front of my car it also makes the squeaking noise my steering is fine but the squeaking is really annoying. Would the WD-40 trick work on the shocks or the ball joints if that’s the problem?
Dylan-
The WD-40 trick works best on rubber bushings like your control arm or sway bar bushings. This would work well on your lower shock mount as well, but if the problem is your ball joint the WD-40 trick may not reveal the problem. For a ball joint, you can check for a torn boot or any visible rust. If you have a large pair of pillars or channel locks you can also squeeze the ball joint and if you can compress the ball into the joint it at all then it should be replaced. To check the upper shock mount you usually have to remove the shock and once you’ve done all the work it can be smart to simply replace them anyway.
Thanks!
-BDP
My bmw 116d, se, I notice the right rear drivers side is about 1.5cm lower then the other, sometime more, handling and tracking seems fine, but defiantly notice the back end isn’t level when looking from behind, here is a slight squeak from the back when I bounce the car, but not sure if this is the parking brake making the noise. Could you advise, if I should have the shocks absorbers and springs changed / looked at, and also the bushing if any changed, yet to take it to a garage, went to bmw when it was still under warranty but they kicked up a fuss so didn’t bother waiting around.
Adam-
It is possible that your right rear suspension is broken and causing your car to sag on that side. If it was due to a bushing you would get more of a clunk or thud over bumps than a squeak. We would recommend starting by checking the shock absorber on that side and the spring mount.
The other thing you may consider is whether or not your car is evenly loaded. Something heavy in the trunk, a full tank of gas, or even your car battery or spare tire may be enough to unsettle your car by the 1.5cm that you described.
Thank You!
-BDP
I’m driving a Corolla Altis. When I drive over the hump, it has squeaky sound, the sound only appear when the wheel land on the ground after the hump. It has this “eee(when the wheel touch the ground) ahh(when it bounce back)” sound. After car wash(water spray into wheel arch using high pressure water gun), the noise is even louder when I drove over humps. I tried driving over the hump with one wheel, both sides but no sound when 1 wheel ran over the hump, but when both wheels have oscillation, then it will have the noise. Today, I drove in heavy rain and I realised, the “eee ahh” sound is gone. It comes and go, giving me real problem trying to pin point the real problem. Can you advise what could be wrong? I suspect it is the bushing, but ain’t sure if it is sway bar bushing or lower control arm bushing.
Thanks for your question about your Corolla. It does sound like you have a worn bushing so the WD-40 procedure described in this article may work well in your case. Based on your description of the sound only happening when you go over a bump with both wheels, our best guess is that it is a worn sway bar bushing that is causing the noise. When both wheels go over a bump the sway bar rotates significantly and could cause the noise you are hearing.
Hello!
I have a 2005 Jeep Liberty. My car has been making the creaking noise in the front half of my car for a few months. I can only hear it from the inside of the car not with the window down or anything. Some days I can’t hear it at all and all seems ok some days it’s worse and the creaking noise happens with every little bump or turn of the wheel. It isn’t very consistent or predictable. I just took it to the shop to get it everything checked before I drive 1400 miles during a move. I mentioned the creaking and even had someone ride in the car with me so I could be sure they would hear it. They said it is nothing to worry about. They checked my suspension and ball joints and lubed everything up. They said eventually I’ll need to get some suspension work done but right now I’m ok. But just a week later it sounds worse so I go back and someone come for a ride with me and said the same – that it’s nothing to worry about. They again explained that it’s to do with the bushings and ball joints in my suspension but that they checked it and I should be fine. I reiterated that I am about to drive a far distance and he didn’t seem to think it was a concern right now.
I guess my question is if it is possible for my car to be making all this creaking if everything is ok for now? And how will I know if I need suspension/ball joint/bushing work done? I am worried as I will be leaving in 2 days to move and towing a trailer and don’t want something to fail that could have been prevented!
Katherine,
Thanks for your question about your 2005 Jeep Liberty. We hope your move went well and agree with your mechanics that creaks and squeaks like you’re having can be very annoying but often times they are not an indication that anything is going to break in the near future. Often times the sound is simply from a suspension component moving on a rubber bushing and doesn’t mean anything is wrong. You could try replacing the bushings and the noise may go away, but it isn’t necessary to keep your vehicle safe. If the noise starts to turn into a clunk it would be worth having your suspension looked at again.
Hello. I have a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica. I recently took it to a mechanic to check if the bushings needed replacing because it would make noises over bumps. Well, after getting my vehicle back, (no repairs made yet), they told me 2 terminals needed to be replaced as well. My vehicle started making a squeaking noise. Like a squeaky bed. And this noise is not only when I go over bumps, just by opening the door, and climbing to the passenger seat, it squeaks. Every single move makes it squeak. It sounds like it is coming from the back. I took it to a different mechanic and they said that no repairs are needed, that the suspension is fine, it just needs lubricating. Is this correct? Will this squeaking noise be fixed just by lubricating the suspension?
Fatima,
Since you’ve gotten the same diagnosis from 2 different mechanics it seems likely that they are correct. The way your suspension works is that there are a lot of components that need to be able to move and pivot and those are mounted on ball joints and rubber bushings. Due to the weight of your car and metal and rubber components, after time they will start making noise even though they are still working properly and your car is safe to drive. You could try to WD-40 procedure in this article to identify the component making the noise and have it replaced, but it will simply quiet things down, not make your vehicle handle any better.
Hi, I have a 2005 mustang and when I turn the wheel to the left it makes a loud creaking noise the slower I turn the wheel the louder it is it’s coming from my front passenger side a few people ha said it sounds like it could be a bad ball joint, the sound is similar to a old creaky metal door it kinda sounds like metal on metal I tried to log care the spot it was coming from I don’t think it’s my lower ball joint it stopped creaking when I sprayed what I think is the suspension arm where it connects to the wheel (sorry I’m not sure what all of these parts are I’m still learning) I appreciate any advice thank you.
I did s little more research and I think the part I referred to is called macpherson strut
Bryan,
Thanks for your question about your Mustang. The joint that connects your lower suspension arm to the knuckle (that is the piece that holds the hub and wheel) should actually be a ball joint, so if the noise stopped when you lubricated that it sounds like you’ve found your broken joint!
I just bought a 03 ford explorer sport trac an the only problems iv noticed on the truck is when i go over speed bump it makes a loud squeaking noise.
The other problem is when i turn the steering wheel it kinda squeaks or squeals but i kinda goes away. I did put power steering fluid cause it was low when i bought it but i figured it would kinda help the problem unless it could be something else.
This is the first truck iv ever owned so im still learning what everything is.
Ernest,
Thanks for your question about your Ford Explorer. Honestly, squeaky suspensions are not unusual for this vehicle. If you find your power steering fluid getting regularly low, you can use BlueDevil Power Steering Stop Leak (available here: http://store.gobdp.com/power-steering-stop-leak-00232/) to seal the leak and hopefully stop the squealing when you turn.
If you can duplicate the squeak you get from a speedbump by bouncing the front or back of your truck up and down then you should be able to use the WD-40 trick described in this article to find your squeaky component and replace it.
Hi
I drive a 2008 bmw 3 series coupe (e92 m sport) whenever I drive over a bump my rear right corner or my car squeaks and I can feel the whole car slightly move sideways. Any ideas?
Connor,
It sounds like you’ve got a bad suspension component in the rear end of your car. Based on your description of the car shifting sideways, the most likely culprit sounds like a ball joint or control arm bushing. Most of the time replacing the control arm will include new bushings and a new ball joint so that might be the easiest thing for you to do to solve your squeak and the shift you feel.
Hello,
I have a 2010 Ford Escape FWD. We have a squeeking/creaking noise coming from the driver side front. We have replaced the sway bar end links. The noise happens on bumps small and large, usually travelling at slower speeds. The noise goes away when travelling faster.
Any help?!!
Thanks,
James,
Thanks for your question about your Ford Escape. Escapes are known for having noisy suspension components so it is possible that the noise you are having is “normal” and not an indication that anything needs to be replaced. If your sway bar end links are new it could be a ball joint, control arm bushing or strut mount. The struts on the front of your Escape are very stiff and many people have found noises to go away with new struts so depending how many miles are on your car, you might consider starting there.
I drove the very winding mountains and when I got home I could hear a soft squeak sound (like a bed makes) on the front right area of my car. This is a sudden thing. It is not loud but annoying and concerning. It happens related to bumps (speed bumps) and most bumpy road surfaces (that have bumps and small potholes) I took your advice and went outside, pushing down on the front of the car, both right and left and hear nothing. Is it possible something in my car is striking something else, like a piece of plastic is rubbing on something.? But it seems related to the vehicle at lower speeds. When I am on the freeway, I don’t hear it at all at 55_ mph, unless there is some bumpy surfaces on the freeway. I have new struts, new bearings, new shocks (8 months old) What does this sound like? It’s something new, related to the very winding mountain roads and only heard this after driving up and back through the mountains.
Dana,
Thanks for your question about your car squeaking. The sound you’re describing sounds most like a rubber bushing has gotten old and started to squeak. Mountain roads can often cause your car to lean significantly so our guess would be it’s probably a sway bar bushing that is making the noise in your car. This would also make sense based on all the maintenance you’ve done and the fact that you can’t reproduce the noise by bouncing the car. You can try the WD-40 trick described in the article you read starting with your sway bar bushings to see if that is indeed the problem.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
Hi,
I have a Ford Taurus 1997 & I just had the front struts replaced as well as had a wheel alignment done. My car makes a horrible creaking/squeaking sound but it only happens when the car is moving. It doesn’t happen when I hit the breaks. Also, if I get on the freeway I can barely hear it but if I’m driving 30mph on the street the sound is PROFOUND! Could it be that the dust plate wasn’t bent back in place? If I’m hearing correctly its coming from the right side Im just trying to think small b/c I know thats an easy fix but its really bothering me & any other ideas are more than welcome!
Naja,
Thanks for your question about your Ford Taurus. The WD-40 trick described in the article should be able to help you identify the noise you’re hearing. It’s unlikely that the noise you’re hearing is coming from the brake dust shield. Our guess is that you’ve got a bad ball joint in your passenger side lower control arm, but it would be surprising that they didn’t catch that while replacing your struts. Another often overlooked squeaky bushing is the sway bar bushings so you may take a look at those as well.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
Hey! I have a 95 Acura Integra sedan, and she produces a very (to me) pronounced squeaking/rubbing sound coming from the left rear suspension area while driving. I firmly believe it is coming from the strut tower itself (as apposed to bushings or bearings) on that side of the car. When I bounce the vehicle up and down while it is stationary, I can hear it squeak as the strut piston moves up and down. this sound also translates to a vibration sensation which can be felt with the body (hands for example) when resting up against certain surfaces of the car. I tried to have it diagnosed by multiple experts and specialist around town, and they all give me more or less the same message. “Its not really a big deal, so don’t worry about it unless you are willing to spend big bucks.” I do appreciate their honest effort to try and save me money rather than to rob me with bogus repair bills, but they refuse to tell me what is causing the noise, and what I can do to cure it (which was all I really wanted anyway.) If I am to bear this incredible annoyance, I would at least like to know what it is so I can have some kind of peace of mind.
JL,
Thanks for your question about your Integra. Based on your description it is possible that the sound you’re experiencing is coming from your actual shock absorber. The slight vibration you are feeling is consistent with what might happen if the oil in the shock is worn out and causing vibrations in the valving or if the shock seal is catching on the cylinder. We will let you know the mechanics diagnosing the problem are probably correct in that it’s not an issue that will noticeably affect performance and won’t cause any dangerous situations.
If you’re mechanically inclined and have a free afternoon, it is relatively easy to change the rear shocks on your vehicle. You will need a spring compressor that you can rent at most local auto parts stores and a good socket set, but besides that its a pretty straight forward job that will save you a lot of money doing it yourself.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
2007 trailblazer ls squeaking noise on the left front side when entering driveway. Struts are good what could it be?
Shane,
Thanks for your question about your Trailblazer. It could also be a sway bar bushing or end link or a control arm bushing or ball joint. The WD-40 trick described in this article should help you identify where the noise is coming from if you lubricate each component one by one and try pulling in and out of your driveway. If you only hear the noise, or it’s different when you enter your driveway at and angle you may be able to rule out the sway bar bushings, but we would recommend trying them all.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
I have a 2007 honda accord and everytime i turn the slightest it squeaks in the front right end and i tried spraying behind the wheel with penetrating oil and it seemed to go away but comes back a couple days later.
Gabe,
Thanks for your question about your 2007 Honda Accord. It sounds like you’ve already discovered your problem as the penetrating oil trick worked! The fact that the noise comes back a few days later is not surprising as the oil will wear off and the suspension component will start to squeak again. The problem may be your sway bar end link, your lower ball joint or your strut mounts. Try lubricating each of these components individually to see if you can isolate the sound and see what you need to replace.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
I have a 2001 Citroen Xsara Picasso, I can hear a squeak from the front drivers side that sounds like a squeaky bed, especially at low speeds (stuck in traffic normally) I thought it was probably suspension, but it stops when braking. It also seems to stop at around 50mph.
FYI – recently had new brake discs and pads, so I doubt it is brake pad warning.
Also had passenger side suspension spring replaced in the new year. Any ideas?
Thanks for your question about your Citroen Xsara Picasso. Usually sounds like you are describing are worn suspension components, usually a ball joint or bushing. Since the sound stops when you press the brake pedal it sounds like you actually just need your brake components lubricated. Your brake pads are designed to float in the caliper and the caliper to slide easily on its mount. If the person installing your new brake pads didn’t properly lubircate the back and side of the pads along with the caliper slides it could be causing the sound you’re hearing.
For more information about brake noise, check out our article about that here: https://gobdp.com/blog/squeaking-brakes/.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
Hello. OK I just changed the master brake (I guess that’s what it’s called) of my 2002 Toyota corolla because some days ago while driving the brake pedals became hard and couldn’t depress and little tufts of smoke were coming out of that iron/metal thingy where the brakes clutch on to. So changed the master brakes yesterday. Today while driving I hear little squeal /squeaks while acc mostly in traffic. Dont hear it while driving fast just in traffic when I need to acc a bit. Tired of going back and forth to the mechanic just Cos I’m a lady they tend to spam me. I do need help to understand what’s going on. Thanks.
Ada,
Thanks for your question about your brakes. The problems you’re having sound more like a brake problem than a suspension problem. Hopefully, it is simply that your brake pads need to be lubricated to stop the squeaking. Try reading our article about squeaky brakes here: https://gobdp.com/blog/squeaking-brakes/. Let us know if you have any other questions!
-BD Auto Pro
Hello! I have a 2003 VW Jetta. I have recently noticed that the squeaky noise that you were talking about progressively getting worse the past few weeks. I drive a good 100 miles a day back and forth between home school and work. Every little bump I go over in town I can hear it squeak and it is getting annoying. In addition to that, when I drive on the highway the car shakes and gets worse the faster I go. I push down on the front driver side and I can make it squeak exactly how it sounds while I drive. I talked to a few friends and family and they gave me a list of possibilities which were very similar to the one you gave above. I just would like an honest opinion before I goto a shop and where they will try to get me to buy all kinds of stuff I dont need! Thanks for your help!
Jaymz,
Thanks for your question about your Jetta. It sounds like you’ve got the problem pretty well narrowed down. We would recommend using the procedure in the article of spraying one component at a time and bouncing your car to see if the squeak changes. When it does, you’ve found the problem component and you can drive confidently to a repair shop. If it is a rubbery squeak like a pencil eraser then it is most likely a control arm bushing or a sway bar bushing.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro