Suspension noises

[AmusedMussel]

Going to start by saying that I don't have a ramp or a trolley jack or anything like that so its tricky for me to actually have a proper look myself.

 

I bought my car in June 2020, it is sound as far as I can tell but it does seem to creak a little at low speeds. Sounds like its coming from the rear. i have tried to troubleshoot this as much as I can and couldn't find anything that really solved it or explained it. So accepted it as a characteristic and moved on.

 

In July, I hit a kerb a bit too hard and snapped a front spring. I had this replaced (and the other) not long after doing it. The garage said that the rest of the car looked good and they were amazed at its condition.

 

The creaking from the rear continued but everything was gucci for a while. In September, I had all 4 tires replaced. After that, its not really seemed right. When I am on specific motorways and at motorway speed I get a decent amount of steering wheel vibration. But I wasn't sure if this was the surfaces (or a problem that is exaggerated by harsher road surfaces) and I noticed that when I went over speed bumps (specifically because they cause a lot of suspension travel) there is quite a loud squeaking coming from the front of the car. At first I wondered if it was the dashboard, then I noticed that the temperature outside affected the frequency of the sound. (It kind of sounds like rubber squeaking). Its a lot worse in cold weather, so its making me wonder if its a top mount or bushes.

 

When I originally felt the springs snap back in summer, i found the piece of suspension next to the car when I pulled up. 

I found a larger piece a couple of months ago that looked like a spring so I can't help but wonder if the new ones have snapped... So I'm not ruling that out despite the new springs being less than a year old. The car sits level though and I have run my hands along the springs and can't see where it would have come from (might be chance and someone else's car).

 

I'm about to give up and send it back to a garage. Is there anything that anyone can think of that could be the culprit so I don't put myself at risk of being shafted by mechanic fees.

 

Thanks.

 

 

Edited 25 February, 2021 by AmusedMussel
Typo

[mrgf]

Some suspension parts may well be a bit squeakier, in very cold conditions so if its just that, relax. I did think though, as you mentioned a worsening since fitting new tyres, were they new or part-worn, do they all match and are they all fitted the correct way and balanced/inflated correctly? You need to address these issues to start with. (By fitted the correct way, many tyres have an "Outside" And a direction of rotation... Get that wrong and you are asking for trouble).

 

They could also be fitted to the bead, incorrectly or you may wave bucked a well when you hit the kerb and the latest rubber made that stand out more. Generally, wheel vibration, at around motorway legal speed and not prior and also fading out if going faster (As if you would) Is often associated with unbalanced wheels/tyres. When you had the springs fitted, did they also check the wishbone had not become bent? I had one get bent once and although the car drove straight, when you looked at the right of the car, the wheel was central in the wheel arch but the left (Front) was positioned further back and would even rub against the plastic arch, in certain conditions. Had to be replaced, of course!

[Murdockman]

Check the control arm bushes as they squeak as they start to fail , if you find it's them have them changed to Seat Cupra control arm bushes which are solid are  much better than the Skoda ones which have the gaps in and need replacing every 2-3 years once they have been done, Cupra ones last for many years stiffen the suspension up and improve handling, they are more expensive to buy but it's worth it in the long run as you save on labour charges

[AmusedMussel]

13 hours ago, mrgf said:

Some suspension parts may well be a bit squeakier, in very cold conditions so if its just that, relax. I did think though, as you mentioned a worsening since fitting new tyres, were they new or part-worn, do they all match and are they all fitted the correct way and balanced/inflated correctly? You need to address these issues to start with. (By fitted the correct way, many tyres have an "Outside" And a direction of rotation... Get that wrong and you are asking for trouble).

 

They could also be fitted to the bead, incorrectly or you may wave bucked a well when you hit the kerb and the latest rubber made that stand out more. Generally, wheel vibration, at around motorway legal speed and not prior and also fading out if going faster (As if you would) Is often associated with unbalanced wheels/tyres. When you had the springs fitted, did they also check the wishbone had not become bent? I had one get bent once and although the car drove straight, when you looked at the right of the car, the wheel was central in the wheel arch but the left (Front) was positioned further back and would even rub against the plastic arch, in certain conditions. Had to be replaced, of course!

I will check all the tires. They were all brand new, fitted by National tires. I wondered if they hadn't been balanced properly and that was the vibration issue. But since the suspension started squeaking I wondered if it was one issue. Definitely no major damage from hitting the kerb, just the broken spring. That was checked over and fitted by professionals.

 

12 hours ago, Murdockman said:

Check the control arm bushes as they squeak as they start to fail , if you find it's them have them changed to Seat Cupra control arm bushes which are solid are  much better than the Skoda ones which have the gaps in and need replacing every 2-3 years once they have been done, Cupra ones last for many years stiffen the suspension up and improve handling, they are more expensive to buy but it's worth it in the long run as you save on labour charges

I will try and get a look at them and see what the deal is. I suspect you are right, I've just not wanted to jack the car up and have a look because its freezing here at the moment.

 

Thanks guys

[AmusedMussel]

Wheel balancing and passenger side top mount was the cause. Now repaired.