Creaking suspension noise from drivers side sachs damper

[j0sh]

My trophy's recently started making a creaking noise which looks to be coming from the drivers side suspension. You can hear it when driving over any slight bumps in the road and especially over speed bump. Also today noticed what must be a slow puncture as the pressure on this tyre was down to 17.5PSI! I wonder if this could be related and have caused some sort of damage?

Took a video of the noise which can be heard easily when pushing down on the drivers side sill...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOo1K3i0c28

Will be getting 2 new front tyres on Thursday so will get it properly looked at then but just wondered if anyone had any thoughts on what this could be?

Josh

 

[Horatio]

Possibly Bottom Ball Joints..
My 182 was creaking, replaced mine today, feels & sounds 100% better now..

 

[eljeffo64]

Hmmm, looking at the vid, that seems to move up and down far too easily; knackered damper methinks :-(

 

[j0sh]

The sachs dampers were rebuilt by BG just before I bought the car, at around 21k, the car has now done 36k so surely it can't be them?

 

[eljeffo64]

You'd hope not.. They'd be under guarantee would they not? Could be ball joints but it did look a bit to springy in the vid imo... How do they compare side to side for bounce? Other options include top mounts or broken spring???

 

[j0sh]

The sides seem pretty similar in terms of rebound, had another listen to it today and it does sound like its coming from somewhere around the spring/ damper area rather than down below (ball joint) but could be wrong.

As for the excessive movement, I was almost jumping up and down on the inside sill to get it to move that much.

 

[bearne1]

Always rocking mine to check for movement and nowhere near as much movement as yours tbh.

Wonder if it could be related to the washer that I have read on here when rebuilt by bg?

I'd run it in to a local garage to get it checked over as they should be able to determine where the noise is coming from.

Hope it all works out ok.

 

[Jonc]

The squeaking doesn't sound metalic, could be a bushing, check the anti-rollbar bushing or the top mounts.

 

[j0sh]

Yeah does sound like some sort of rubber squeaking, could it be the sleeves around the lower coils on the springs rubbing against each other? Anyway getting it properly checked out tomorrow, will report back.

 

[hoolio]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOo1K3i0c28



Josh

:lol:

 

[j0sh]

Taken the trophy to 2 garages now, national tyres and a renault specialist. Neither of which can actually determine what is causing the noise, other than it definitely being something related to the damper/ suspension, as all bushes, ball joints, ARB, top mount and springs are fine and the noise comes when the damper is compressed. Although I've noticed whenever the car is jacked up high enough or raised on lifts, the noise all of a sudden goes away for a while but comes back after a few drives.

Looks like I'll have to get in contact with BG Motorsport to see if they can look at the dampers. They were rebuilt in Oct 2010.

 

[j0sh]

Just dropped the car off at BG Motorsport today, looks like the dampers will be having their 2nd rebuild in only 36,000 miles. The drivers side has no gap on the reservoir and as Ben tested it, has way too much bounce in the suspension.

Hoping the cost is not too horrendous, and no damage to the shafts has occurred. As they were rebuilt only in Oct 2010, and has covered 12k since, Ben has said they will contribute 50% of the rebuild cost (equating to £170+ VAT). Then there's the cost to remove and refit dampers/springs at £180+VAT (seems a bit steep!) I took the car down to them to get it checked out rather than post the dampers themselves, as I was unsure as to whether they were in need of a rebuild, again.

 

[Matbrown]

Ben has said they will contribute 50% of the rebuild cost (equating to £170+ VAT). Then there's the cost to remove and refit dampers/springs at £180+VAT (seems a bit steep!)

Thats how they are making up their 50% then.

 

[wigstar1]

Personally I wouldn't be happy with that at all. They should at least offer a 12 month guarantee on thier work. I'm starting to hear more and more people having to return to BG after having damper work done. I'm starting to question exactly how good they are? I would hope they are good with them being used by the EVO Magazine boys, but from that one article they seem to have gained all this work and their prices aren't cheap either.

I am more than happy to be put right on this issue.

 

[eljeffo64]

I agree completely.

 

[j0sh]

According to Ben, they can't offer a warranty on this work as its a 2nd hand part and is serviceable. When questioned further he just mentioned that you wouldn't get a warranty when you've had your vehicle serviced so this is no different. But I would argue you would expect a warranty on specific parts if you've had them changed/ rebuilt. E.g BTM offered me a 12 month warranty on a new cambelt change should anything untoward happen.

Anway, collected the car back today, it turns out the Schrader valves had developed hairline cracks and so these were replaced FOC along with obviously re-gasing and sealing them.

I think you can just make out the cracks in this quick photo I took...


Total cost charged to me was £216.00 (3 hours labour @ £60 per hour, to remove, clean and refit 2 x dampers).

 

[Cue]

Pay using a credit card, you'll be protected under section 75 of the credit act, but only for 30 days iirc...