Rear suspension SQUEAK over bumps

[BackinaGT]

I am getting a extremely annoying high-pitched squeak (not creak or groan but rather like a bird chirping) from the right rear suspension when driving over bumps and even road imperfections. I attached a sound clip that I recorded with my cell phone so its not the greatest but it can clearly be heard. Crank the volume and at ~ 13 seconds and on you can hear it chirp as I go over road imperfections.

I have a 2018 GT PP Convertible with Magneride and the following upgrades:
Steeda rear suspension modifications:

• adjustable camber arms 555 4123
• adjustable toe links 555 4120
• LCR bearing 555 4117
• rear sway bar/adjustable end links/billet brackets
• Magneride sport lowering springs 555 8242 with 1/4” spacers 555 8251
• vertical links w/ poly bushings 555 4129
• IRS subframe alignment kit 555 4438
• Extreme G-Trac K-Member brace 555 5532
• Not a suspension mod but I do have the Steeda low profile jacking rails installed.

Non-Steeda rear suspension upgrades:

• BMR cradle bushing lockout kit BMR Cradle Bushing Lockout kit, level 1 ie CB010
• Ford Performance toe/knuckle bearing.

I researched this situation exhaustingly on the forums/internet. All parts that required it were properly greased upon installation. I also removed, cleaned and re-greased the rear camber arm and the vertical link but this did not solve the problem. One thing that does work is when I spray that side of the rear suspension with water from a hose. It doesn't squeak at all after doing that. I assume the water is acting as a lubricant. I just need to isolate the noise. Sometimes, I am able to reproduce the sound by bouncing the car up and down with the trunk open. The noise is coming from the area in front or in line with the front of the rear tire.

I did contact Steeda on this topic for their opinion and they believe it is most likely the BMR cradle bushing lockout kit (as opposed to the one they sell which has a different design). Has anyone experienced this or has an opinion to add? Thanks!!

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[stang17]

2 likely culprits are LCA bushing or the seat latches on rear seat.

I put my rear seats down, went for a drive, and squeak went away. Put seats back up and came right back.

A little grease on rear seat latches did the trick.

 

[WItoTX]

Of course Steeda says its the BMR component....the more I learn about them, I tell ya...

Put car up on wheel cribs, and have a friend bounce the car while you listen. If you can get a cheap stethoscope, that will help pinpoint it too if it's under the car. Like Stang said, check rear seats. Sometimes that sound inside the cab bounces around crazy.

 

[BackinaGT]

2 likely culprits are LCA bushing or the seat latches on rear seat.

I put my rear seats down, went for a drive, and squeak went away. Put seats back up and came right back.

A little grease on rear seat latches did the trick.

I appreciate your input. I have a Convertible so the rear seats don't go down (also I believe I've isolated the squeak to somewhere around the front of the right rear wheel). I thought about the LCA bushing but not sure how that can squeak. I will admit that due to its tight position I was not able to properly use a torque wrench BUT it is cranked on there.

 

[BackinaGT]

Of course Steeda says its the BMR component....the more I learn about them, I tell ya...

Put car up on wheel cribs, and have a friend bounce the car while you listen. If you can get a cheap stethoscope, that will help pinpoint it too if it's under the car. Like Stang said, check rear seats. Sometimes that sound inside the cab bounces around crazy.

Haha, I hear ya. Unfortunately I don't have access to wheel cribs or a stethoscope but I have some ideas to mimic them.

 

[tj@steeda]

When components are properly installed, there should be no noise. Every part that we install & test - should not precipitate any unwanted noise. We do a considerable amount of testing prior to launch.

So in our recommendations - we advise checking on the other components, that we don't generally manufacture - to start to isolate the sound. Vice versa, I am sure other manufacturers would do the same.

It is very difficult to talk through an issue without actually seeing the parts or understanding where a noise is coming from - so if we can rule out components that are not ours, then we can then isolate any potential issues.

Our lead tech is very good at diagnosing but he it also is a considerable amount of time & effort to diagnose ... so every little bit helps.

TJ

 

[raydog1]

Same rear end squeak for my 2018 GT started happening a few months ago and was getting progressively louder. For me it was the passenger-side aftermarket vertical link. The metal piece inside the bushing fell right out after I uninstalled it. It was installed 4 years ago with no problems. I put the OEM links back on and the squeak went away. Has been silent ever since I did this a month ago.

 

[LetItRide1978]

I had something similar and can’t remember if it ended up being the active exhaust wiring harness or the exhaust pipes themselves rubbing up against something when I would go over bumps.

 

[WildHorse]

Retighten the 4 IRS cradle bolts. Yer welcome.

 

[BackinaGT]

Same rear end squeak for my 2018 GT started happening a few months ago and was getting progressively louder. For me it was the passenger-side aftermarket vertical link. The metal piece inside the bushing fell right out after I uninstalled it. It was installed 4 years ago with no problems. I put the OEM links back on and the squeak went away. Has been silent ever since I did this a month ago.

That was one of the first things I investigated, along with the camber arm, because they were relatively easy. I removed both, cleaned them, regreased them and installed. The squeak was still there.

 

[BackinaGT]

Retighten the 4 IRS cradle bolts. Yer welcome.

I had re-torqued the two on the passenger side (only). They were properly torqued. No change afterwards. I did not check the driver side as that is not where the noise is coming from.

 

[mustang_puppy]

Can't see your video, but I also have a squeak/chirp that happens while going over road imperfections. I have some of the same Steeda suspension modifications you do. I only hear the squeak/chirp when my windows are down; haven't tried greasing the seatback latches yet. I do have a croak/groan from the BMR shock mounts and shock tower brace I put in a while back.

 

[mali321]

Hi guys, I know this is an old thread but in case it helps anyone, I had the same creaking noise when going over bumps. For me it was my rear BMR upper control arms (UCA762) -- they had some rust on the outer swivel joint. I wiped it down with a towel and most of the rust came off, and for the remaining I used a wire brush lightly. I then sprayed it with WD40 first, then some white lithium grease (PB Blaster), and finally pumped it with grease using the built-in nipple on the arms. After each spray I made sure to thoroughly move the swivel joint around in every direction to make sure the lubricants reached everywhere. Thankfully noise is gone now!

In retrospect I should have known it was the camber arms because it would only squeak when there were uneven bumps (only on the right side but not on the left, or vice versa), not when both rear wheels hit the bump at the same time.

I read some people say it was the aftermarket vertical links for them, but I don't have aftermarket vertical links so I was doubtful if my noise would be due to the control arms, but it definitely was. So long story short, this would apply to any aftermarket components in the rear suspension. In my case it was on the swivel joint of the rear upper control arm.

 

[hot rod]

Have you ever find out the culprit?

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