Topic: Squeak noises in city driving

[chrisfranklin]

I've been driving on city streets and lately been hearing some squeak noise when the jeep hits small bumps. At low speed its ever-present -- top is off -- and I am having a hard time pin-pointing where it's coming from.  

I've been running through possible causes.  I was guessing bushings and I've got greased poly bushings in the leaf springs and the sway bar.  Anything else you -- especially you YJ owners -- would be checking out?  

I may see if I can get somebody to listen for noise as I drive by slowly

[jagular7]

Turn the radio up.....



Squeaks can come from a lot of places other than suspension. Driveshaft slips, calipers, body mounts, cracked frames, broken motor/trans mounts, loose floor debri, etc.

[sharpxmen]

check if the teflon pads between your leafs are all there

check the shock absorbers

if it's not suspension related a common thing is a loose exhaust clamp (just barely) or a loose slip fit of the exhaust pipes (clamp related also)

[chrisfranklin]

I'll check out the exhaust, and body mounts.  The shocks are Bilsteins that are 10 years old and I think are still in good shape.  I replaced the motor mounts a few years back.  I'd be the same on just turning the radio up.  Maybe I'll resubscribe to Sirius/XM and just call it even, or buy an HD tuner  . Only holdup is I don't think I've put but 1000 miles on this Jeep this year

[sharpxmen]

I'll check out the exhaust, and body mounts.  The shocks are Bilsteins that are 10 years old and I think are still in good shape.  I replaced the motor mounts a few years back.  I'd be the same on just turning the radio up.  Maybe I'll resubscribe to Sirius/XM and just call it even, or buy an HD tuner  . Only holdup is I don't think I've put but 1000 miles on this Jeep this year

it happened to me with the teflon pads between the leafs and was driving me nuts - so have a look at that as well, could be that only 1/2 is missing so check both sides

[neale_rs]

It could be those Teflon pads.  Does anyone know where to buy those?

[Torch_Ind]

poly bushings squeak that's probably your prob.

even then my leafs squeak and make noise just anyway with rubber bushings it's kinda normal. most you can do is re-grease everything.  I just live with it cause it's not a concern just a noise.

check every thing to make sure nothing is worn or broken and if you don't find anything but still have the noise just drive it.

my wife calls my YJ rickety because its got its sounds and I have a rear lunch box locker so it makes a array of noises but there normal considering the mods i have done to it.

I had poly bushings in my accord when I was in the fast and furious days cause it was lowered and i changed all my bushings to poly. and it did the same thing even weather / temp/ humidity would make the noise change and go away and come back at random

I would try greasing you bushings again and see if it goes away.

[Jeffy]

I'm going to say it's the track bar.

[chrisfranklin]

I took both of those tracker-bars off a few years ago, though.  Or are you saying the squeaking might be furthered by the absence of the track-bars?

 

[Torch_Ind]

I took both of those tracker-bars off a few years ago, though.  Or are you saying the squeaking might be furthered by the absence of the track-bars?

 

Nope if you don't have them they won't be the squeak. try greasing the poly bushings again!!  poly bushings are know for squeaks

[Jeffy]

Take a can of WD-40 and start spraying some bushings.  If it stops you know that was the problem.  I'd do one corner at a time so you can try to localize the sound.

Once you found it, you can take it apart and grease it properly.

[chrisfranklin]

Take a can of WD-40 and start spraying some bushings.  If it stops you know that was the problem.  I'd do one corner at a time so you can try to localize the sound.

Once you found it, you can take it apart and grease it properly.

I soaked the leaf spring bushings, one leaf at a time, with WD40 to see if I could isolate the noise.  Still getting the squeak noise though.  I'll keep working on it and maybe even see if I can recruit some help.  Not that big a deal or anything, just kind of one of those annoyance deals.   

[aka-justin]

After doing my axle upgrade, I have the same type of squeak.  Mine seems to happen when the wheels see-saw, like going over curved dips, driveways, etc.  Good to hear all the ideas.  I'm going to start with pads and work my way out.  Last thing to happen to me is I did the axle, then it fell off the jack stands before I was done.  Should have looked at the exhaust.    Already checked the driveline to ensure it wasn't any u-joints.

[Jeffy]

You might try rocking the engine my hand and see how much play is in the mounts.  Or if one is damages.  Could be engine or transmission.  Although if the engine is rocking then it could be coming from something like the exhaust rubbing against the front driveshaft...

[chrisfranklin]

I tried the engine, suspension all around.  Finally found where the squeak was coming from after pushing down on the right front fender.  Turns out it was the hood latch on the right side making the noise    

Those are cheap and I'll probably just buy another set, but I lubed both latches with some motor oil I had on hand and that seemed to fixed the noise for the time being.