My Fiero didn't passed the yearly inspection, because the upper control arm bushings were worn out. So I ordered two upper control arm bushing kits from The Fiero Store and a mechanic replaced the upper control arm bushings. Finally my Fiero passed the inspection. So far so good.

The first day I didn't hear any squeaks, but from the second day the suspension squeaks at every corner, bump and while braking. It's driving me crazy.
Does someone have a clue how to solve this?

[This message has been edited by Xor (edited 08-13-2008).]

If it's poly, I can't help (it squeaks although you can grease it.)

If it's rubber, did they drop the car on the ground and then tighten the bolts with the car weight on it? That is necessary since the rubber doesn't rotate freely like poly. If they didn't, the rubber can tear loose from the shells and they WILL SQUEAK like a bad pet toy or .....

[This message has been edited by TK (edited 08-13-2008).]

What kind of bushings were installed?

I'd start with... are all the bolts still tight?

For polyurethane... good luck with that. Anything you do is often temporary and will need regular application. It's one of the reasons I avoid the stuff in control arms and sway bars. squeaking poly is a common problem.

Also... don't simply assume it's one of the new bushings. It could be any of them that has decided to do that.

You hear it mainly in cornering??? That sound more like anti sway bar bushings. The two hanger bushings get a huge load in corners.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top of every forum page...)

What they^ said,
If rubber, they should be tight in the sleeves, if they squeek by rubbing on the washers you could use some (spraycan) vaseline..
If poly, you need to grease them very generously with teflon grease before install ( its a good idea to get extra teflon grease )

TEFLON GREASE FOR POLY. 3 PACK
This three pack of teflon grease is made specially for polyurethane bushings. The Fiero Store recommends getting this extra grease when installing new polyurethane bushings. It is better to use too much grease rather than too little.
Part #51750
Price:$3.95

sterkte

I forgot to mention that these bushings are rubber.

TK: That's a good question. I did call the mechanic a few days ago and he said that the bolds are probably too tight. Good suggestion to check if he tighten the bolts when the car was on the ground.

Theorge: I hear it mainly when I hit a bump or at bumpy roads. I even hear when I push and release the front a couple of times.

Thanks guys for your advice. I'll make an appointment with the mechanic and tell him what you have suggested.

The bolts can't be too tight. Rubber bushings are designed to be at zero load with the car weight on them and as the suspension travels up and down, the rubber twists but it wants to spring back to that neutral position.

Being too tight implies the bushings should rotate and they don't.

No doubt you could have something else squeaking but ask them to loosen the bolts, lower the car and re-tighten with the weight of the car on them (even if they have to jack it back up and put the final torque on the nuts. You can turn the wheels and get in there while the car is on the ground.)

This has to be done for the top nuts and bottom control arm bolts. The bottom bushing center sleeve just about always gets pinch in the frame and won't turn once the bolts are tightened to spec. This is normal. Some will have a touch of play and rotate but that is rare.

[This message has been edited by TK (edited 08-14-2008).]