01RedCLS

My CL-S is endlessly squeaking from the front-right tire. When I'm driving (any speed), especially over bumps - it sounds like an old rocking chair!

The car has 125k miles on the original struts, sway bar bushings, etc. How can I narrow down which of those this issue actually is?

I've been thinking of selling my car this year and would like to get this fixed beforehand, especially if it's only a bushing!

01RedCLS

Here is the sound .. ignore the "scraping" .. I think it is a poor recording.

http://soundcloud.com/user1903068/acura-cl-s-squeaking

Also, I'm at work but grabbed a flashlight to check out the upper control arm ball joints on the front passenger side - everything looks fine (driver's side as well). Neither look like pictures I've seen of torn/destroyed upper ball joints.

grammo

You could start the cheap way and replace your sway bar bushings.. I got some moogs shipped cheap from rockauto.com. 2 bolts to loosen for each one.. super easy to install. Could be a cheap fix.

01RedCLS

I popped the hood on my lunch break, pushed down on the front-right side of the vehicle, and the squeaky noise reproduces. Doesn't sound like it's coming from the strut and after pushing very hard on it, the strut doesn't oscillate indicating failure. I tried the driver's side and BOTH sides are the same - so the strut isn't the issue. When I heard the squeak, I tried to localize it from the top of the car with the hood open and it sounds like it's coming from underneath the car. I bet it's the sway bar (bushings, prob). Gonna get a closer look tonight or tomorrow night!

Then will spray some White Lithium grease to see if I can temporarily fix it and truly isolate the problem..

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

spraying them with grease will likely do nothing... just replace with moog and ur doing ur car a favor and likely ill fix the noise as well.. also grease the sway bar bushings if they are dry they can squeak as well

01RedCLS

Update: I'm in the car, it's started, and when I turn the wheel, the squeaking occurs. Still sway bar bushings?

zeta

iTrader: (1)

At that mileage it could be anything, (struts; U/L balljoints; LCA bushings; endlinks; SB bushings etc) especially if everything is still OEM.

IMHO, on your next oil change, take it to a place that includes a free 10 point inspection with the oil service. That way they get it on a lift and can reasonably look over everything and tell you what they find. This will allow you to only fix what you want until you sell.

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

Sway bar bushings, endlinks, possibly even the tie rod ends or ball joints. Theres too many rubber bushings down there to really tell you for sure without having the car in front of us.

Jack the car up and physically move the wheel, listening as you turn it.

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

most of the time it only squeaks when the car is on the ground tho. i had a squeak once in the rear end and greased certain components then drove the car.. wanted to find out what it was so i did that 3 times to find i needed to just undo and use gear grease on the rsb bushings on my progress bar.. if u lubriate everything at once u may solve the issue but not know what solved it. next year the same noise came from the front so i knew to just do the same to the front sway bar bushings (ct sway bar with oem bushings)

i personally spray all the pivot points with liquid wrench and then do krown rust protector stuff in the green can a few days later.. i do have access to a hoists tho so it may be impractical to most to do as i do.

but i still would try to lubricate every pivot point with something.. cause they get dry as fuck and bushings just crack and shrink and the metal guide inside them will inevitably rust up over time so that why i do the liquid wrench first the let dry and then i soak everything with the krown. it's been gravy ever since no rust or squeaks..

if i do see surface rust I liquid wrench the shit outta it.

are u running oem suspension ?? now may be the perfect incentive to go to the low side

01RedCLS

Fixed the squeaking today! I jacked the passenger side up, took the wheel off and noticed a very small rock (pebble) wedged between the top of the tie rod joint and top. Not sure what fixed it but the rock left a mark I can't rub off.

bigcraneman

Thanks for tip about the pebble. My 07 TL front suspension started squeaking today when entering/exiting the car. I read through a ton of threads, convinced it must be the ball joint (it only has 62k miles), then stumbled onto your post. I went outside, jacked the car, pulled the wheel and found a pebble resting on top of the lower control arm. I'm not sure where it was jammed, but when I put the car back down, the squeak was gone.

jroca

I find it very hard to believe if I lift my TL up, I will find a rock up there that is causing my squeaking...

thoiboi

thanks for the 4.5 year bump

jroca

lol thoiboi....you dont understand...so many problems are arising out of my TL...new side and back motor mount needed, just replaced LCA bushings, replaced drivetrain belt, 3rd clutch compressor (whatever its called), needs new upper and lower ball joints, and now I'm getting a loud creek when turning at semi slow speeds but starting to do it more at higher speeds....I need help with this POS car, man! I don't know whether its the ball joins. new struts needed or what!?!?