mc222

Like the thread suggests, whenever I go over the tiniest bump (especially the rear of the car) I get this creaking sound that makes my car sound like it is an 80 year old wooden door with rusted hinges...

Now, my car is lowered on stock struts ...Could that be causeing the problem? The car rides the same as it always has - but Im at a loss....Perhaps its the sways

Anyone else have this problem...I tried searching but I had no luck and after 4 months of this creaking its time to nip it in the bud.

phipark

I get the same thing when backing out of my drive way. I retightened my sways but that didn't do it.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

You gotta relube or put more teflon tape on the sway bar bushings.

riceboy

ya i had the same thing happen to me
i took it to the dealer and they retightened and relubed it

Slimey

I was thinking of re-lubing and checking torques on the sways during my next maintenance session.

What specific type of lubricant/grease do you guys use?

blader

Sounds like the sways.

The first time I did mine I wrapped the rear bar itself with two layers of teflon tape at the two points in which it contacts the bushing, then I took regular automotive grease and greased the inside of the polyeurethane bushing. No squeaks and they were installed last January (10 months).

EDIT: does anyone know the torque specs on the rear sway bar bushing bolts?

Red-CL

Lithium Grease.

Slimey

Thanks.

Chemmech

Blader,
what size are the bolts? I'm sure there is a standard torque for bolts. You just need the diameter and the grade of the bolt (stamped on top of the bolt head).

http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/specs/bolts/M_bolts.html

phipark

I'm not so sure it's the sways. I installed my sways in July or so. I wrapped them in teflon tape and used the lithium grease. A little too early to do it. But it only happens when I back out of my driveway over the curb. It's not that bad though. Just need to turn the stereo first.

blader

phipark .. when do you think the sways move?

Sways take away some of the independence of the suspension. I'm sure you noticed that when you put the sways on and hit a few bumps, the car felt a little stiffer. The sways limit how much the two sides of the suspension can move independently from one another. So when backing out of the driveway, if one wheel goes over a curb or goes over the curb at a different time than the other wheel, its putting stress on the bar. which in turn puts stress on the bushings. hence the squeak.

Dem1K

iTrader: (1)

how the hell do you check the torque of the bolts? I don't know jackshit about tools or what not...when I last put the lithium grease on, I just re-tightened em w/ a hand socket wrench until they were really tight. Oh and btw, my sways sound awful, and after 3 weeks of greasing em, the HORRIBLE creaking & bullshit sounds comeback. How do I know if theres anything wrong w/ em?