I've noticed a creaking sound especially when the car is cold on a 1st to 2nd shift is when it's really loud kinda like a creaking sound. The only thing I can think of that I have aftermarket suspension is my Hotchkis springs.

Could it be anything else?

 

I recently installed hotchkis swaybars but not springs (yet), and I have a very quiet creaking sound, I think it's coming from the rear, but hard to tell from inside the car. I can only hear it when the car is almost stopped, and when the weight is shifting very slightly. Do you have aftermarket swaybars too?

 

I'm getting Hotchkis installed on my 2006 Z in a few days, I'll keep my ears open and let you know if I get it too. I sure hope not!

 

did you guys install the insulators???

 

Werd.. wait.. did we?

 

I used every part that came with the kit, and that was referenced in the installation manual... (for the swaybars -- I haven't installed the springs yet). And I put the white grease on the inside of the replacement black bushing things like they said. I may go buy some more of that grease and put even more in, to see if it fixes it I'm not sure exactly what kind of grease to buy (manual says non-lithium based).

 

uhoh.... you didnt take the insulators off your old springs?

SEE!! that's what I'm sayin... Teins come with new ones, we gotta use our old one's!

 

I guess I didnt take the insulators off of my stock springs either then. I have some squeaking/creaks going on in my rear as well. I have just the hotchkis springs installed.

Im gonna go look at my stock springs right now though!

 

Just looked at the stock springs in my garage. Two springs do have some type of rubbery/plastic material on the tops of them. I was unaware that I was supposed to remove those and put them on my Hotchkis springs though. Thats kinda stupid. I guess I will have to mess with it once it gets warmer outside though!

 

that's the insulators

 

google energy suspension and order whatever grease they have, i believe hotchkis uses their bushings. If im not mistaken lithium grease will degrade the poly bushing?

 

No my swaybars are stock. It seems like my creaking is coming from the rear also.

 

So am I getting the creaking sound because I didn't put the stock insulators on the Hotchkis? I sold my stock springs to someone else so I do not have any insulators Or do you think some type of grease would take care of it.

 

Perhaps not so much grease, but some type of hard rubber/plastic, seeing as how that is what the stock insulators are. You have to be careful with some types of grease, becasue just as well as it performs at lubricating something, it could be breaking down that material in the process as well. Thats why there are certain types of lubricants used to install the bushings for the swaybars.

I really only notice my squeaking on cold days. Im not all that concerned about it. Im going away this weekend, but perhaps after that I will drop a spring and look at it. I dont think its going to be a problem when its warmer though. It doesnt seem to be already.

 

Just FYI, I had the Hotchkis springs installed today on my 2006 Z and I drove around all night with the windows down (yeah, it was friggen cold!) to listen for any weird noises and happily I have none yet to report. I made sure to talk with the tech doing the work and nicely remind him to put the insulator sleeves onto the new springs, and I don't see them anymore on the OEM springs that came off the car so I guess he did it. I'll report back if anything changes. The car looks nice and even now : )

 

im sure you can get them from the stealership??? shouldnt cost much, and no i wouldnt put grease up there

 

Thats what I say. Dont use grease. Its really easy to take those rear springs out and just put the insulators in.