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Old 07-31-2011, 04:15 AM
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Z33TUNER
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Default Squeaking

Hey guys. I starting to get some squeak every time I take turns sliwly or if I got over a speedbomp slowly. My friends are telling me thar my balljoins are just getting dry and all I need is to grease them up. But to be honest I have no idea what's wrong and I would truly appreciate if anyone can give me a hand how to fix this
Old 07-31-2011, 07:06 AM
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AJCaron12
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Do you have an aftermarket sway bar? Sway bar bushings like to squeak
Old 07-31-2011, 07:50 AM
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Noise is difficult to diagnose. Try WD40 troubleshooting: Spray WD40 on a suspension component. If it stops the noise you have identified the culprit. Now fix the problem.
Old 07-31-2011, 08:23 AM
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winchman
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The ball joints are sealed, so you can't grease them. More likely the bushings as mentioned above. Could also be the shocks.
Old 07-31-2011, 09:19 AM
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Z33TUNER
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It's only the back that squeaks
Old 07-31-2011, 11:34 AM
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AJCaron12
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Originally Posted by winchman
The ball joints are sealed, so you can't grease them. More likely the bushings as mentioned above. Could also be the shocks.
Yes they are sealed, but I still agree with what DavidV said. You can poke a little pinhole in tie rod and ball joint boots with a pic, then attach a straw to a can of PB blaster or WD40 and stick the straw in the boot where you just made the pin hole and spray. Like David said, if it goes away when you do that, bingo.
Old 07-31-2011, 11:40 AM
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Duckeee
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its probably your rear shock mount squeaking. check the gaskets?
Old 07-31-2011, 11:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Duckeee
its probably your rear shock mount squeaking. check the gaskets?
Since when do shocks have gaskets?
Old 07-31-2011, 01:20 PM
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winchman
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There is a thin paper gasket between the top of the shock mount (part of the shock absorber assembly) and the underside of the fender well. You'll probably find it's dried up and cracking into pieces when you remove the upper end of the shock from the car body.
Old 07-31-2011, 01:30 PM
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winchman
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I'm convinced the shock absorber itself is the source of a chirping sound associated with hitting small bumps at low speeds. The noise goes away completely for several days after I drive the car for more than hour, but comes back after several days of sitting in the garage or daily short trips. Large movements of the shock don't make the noise.

I think it's caused by gas getting into the valve in the shock, because the noise sounds just like air in the valves of a hydraulic system. Getting the shock hot on a long drive forces the gas away from the valve.
Old 07-31-2011, 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by AJCaron12
Since when do shocks have gaskets?
since when were you wiki?

oh wait, i dont think you own a Z.
Old 07-31-2011, 02:37 PM
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winchman
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See:


It's part 55338, third from the top in the center.

It really looks like this, though:


Last edited by winchman; 07-31-2011 at 02:38 PM.
Old 07-31-2011, 02:38 PM
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My friend jut told me to get a grease gun and get a little needle. Attach the needle to the grease gun and eject some grease in the ball joInts... What you guys think??
Old 07-31-2011, 02:46 PM
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Duckeee
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Originally Posted by Z33TUNER
My friend jut told me to get a grease gun and get a little needle. Attach the needle to the grease gun and eject some grease in the ball joInts... What you guys think??
wouldnt hurt to see if that's where your problem is coming from. sucks diagnosing squeaking noises.

lol winchman thanks for the re-assurance.
Old 08-01-2011, 05:21 AM
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AJCaron12
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Originally Posted by Duckeee
since when were you wiki?

oh wait, i dont think you own a Z.
That is interesting. Never seen that before in all my time of replacing shocks/struts. But then again, I have yet to replace the ones in my Z lol.
Old 08-01-2011, 08:40 AM
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terrasmak
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Originally Posted by AJCaron12
Yes they are sealed, but I still agree with what DavidV said. You can poke a little pinhole in tie rod and ball joint boots with a pic, then attach a straw to a can of PB blaster or WD40 and stick the straw in the boot where you just made the pin hole and spray. Like David said, if it goes away when you do that, bingo.
Great idea, if the balljoint or tie rod was not bad, it will be shortly after.
Old 08-06-2011, 08:12 PM
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Originally Posted by terrasmak
Great idea, if the balljoint or tie rod was not bad, it will be shortly after.
No it won't. Not from a pinhole. I've done it more than once. It won't **** grease, trust me. And it takes a while for leaking boots to cause a joint to go bad. One of my lower balljoint boots has been pissing grease since the day I bought the car. I'm just too lazy to replace it lol.
Old 08-08-2011, 03:20 PM
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Xzero
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Originally Posted by AJCaron12
No it won't. Not from a pinhole. I've done it more than once. It won't **** grease, trust me. And it takes a while for leaking boots to cause a joint to go bad. One of my lower balljoint boots has been pissing grease since the day I bought the car. I'm just too lazy to replace it lol.
Yes it will. It's not about it "pissing grease", it's about using WD40 & it eating the grease away in the sealed unit. That's not a good thing.

You also open the joint to moisture & debris.

Whatever you do, DO NOT poke holes in your boots & spray WD-40 in your balljoints...
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