Hey gang,

Yesterday for the first time my car made some creaking. The rear of the car has always squeeked or creaked when you go over a speed hump for example. Well, yesterday, it was pissing down with rain and the front of the car made some creaking and squeeking. It was very loud and occured under braking and accelarating.

I took it into Mistubishi today for a look over and the diagnosis was the Bushings are on their way out and the front swar bar bushes are also one their way out. Now, they bushes are beggining to crack and water obviously has or is getting in there. Now since the rain stopped the creaking/squeeking has decreased significantly from 90% audible to 20% audible.

Mitsubishi advised that the rubbers are still solid, and theres no breaking up of them/perishing to the point that its in any way shape or form unsafe to drive or that there is metal on metal knocking.

I therefore have some choices. Continue to drive (given there is no immediate risk) and as the car dries out, that sound should almost entirely dissappear. However if not, then I should consider replacing them at some stage.

So preliminary quotation is for 7 hours labour to remove front and back bushes, replace and also on the front change a clamp assembly rubbers as well on the swaybars. Apparantly you need to take out rear suspension, seats etc to get to rear set up and front is not too bad.

Exact Parts are:
Bushing - 22M x 2 $4.72
Clamp Assy-LH x 1 $89.59
Clamp Assy-RH x 1 $89.59
Bushing RR Axle x 4 $61.20
Labour Lot $682 for 7 hours.

Grand total $952.

If I just do the front (which is where the most noise is), then its around $350 with labour as quoted.

Hence my questions to the AMC community are:
1. Am I better off getting all this work done at say a suspension place over Mitsi?
2. Is Mitsi's quote on labour and total job fair and reasonable?
3. If the squeeking subsides, is there any real reason thats urgent to do this work?
4. Should I just (given thats the issue where the noise is) just get the front done only?
5. Is this something worth doing a DIY day and are people familiar and able to do such a job?

Thanks gang, as always appreciate your answers and Mal, if you see this, your probably the best person around here to answer most of these questions so I appreciate your input. :)

Cheers gang,

Boosty.

You could get cheaper labour at a suspension shop. Many tyre shops will be cheap also. Parts prices seem reasonable though.

Most other places will try and get you to use Poly bushes, big mistake

The rear seat does not have to come out, that is a load of BS, depending on which bushes in the rear need doing would not be a big job

The front, the sway bar is a PITA but to give you an idea I can remove and refit the complete front frame in under 3 hours, yes I do them often so I am faster but if they are really knowing what they are doing should not be an issue for them at all

Mits Dealer quote me more than you have there, for my wifes car, and I basically told them where to go...I did the easy ones myself over time, including the front sway bar, which is not impossible, but would be handy to have access to a hoist...unless its getting worse, you can wait a while and gradually do it yourself...if its urgent maybe the best option is to drive to Melb, and get the "champ" to do it for you.

BTW, anyone know or have a part listing and supplier for all the bushes? or can the rubber bushes be ordered from Mal?

Most other places will try and get you to use Poly bushes, big mistake

yep, I tried this option of Poly on the rears once upon a time...all I can say is forget about it. Rubber is the way to go.

Yeah unfortunately I dont have access to a hoist and as I said its not terrible at present, so I can afford to wait till next service in a few months. But will probably just get hte fronts done only cause thats the worst bit. Also, to drive to Melbourne and back without staying anywhere would cost me a good $200 in juice, so unless Mal can do the whole job less than say $950 - $200 - worthwhile = $600 or thereabouts. So yeah not sure.

So get this right, all weekend my car sits in the garage cause I use it mainly on weekdays only. The squeeking noise and or creaking has disaapeared 100% proving it was a water issue. Really wierd how that happened. I've decided to wait now and if it returns of worsens I'll deal with it down the track as its a huge expense right now and as stated, not critical. Thanks for all the replies too.

are your swaybar bushes greased?

They said they were greased but wouldn't be surprised if it needs a little more.

Why is squeaking and groaning from the front end always instantly diagnosed as stuffed bushes, and why replace all of them?

My TS had moisture dependent noises too. Mine turned out to be dried up grease in the ball joints. Not a sound since replacing the ball joints. Bushes were not touched.

My TJ VRX always made that noise on speed humps, until I properly greased the front sway bar bushes.

Is greasing the bushes a DIY job?

I had some squeaking from the rear where the trailing arm attaches to the body. I used a teflon spray which has quietend it down. It mostly done it in the morning or late at night, but now it is silient. I'm not sure if the rubber will degrade from the oil in the spray, but I got nothing to loose since I would of had to replace them anyway.

Is greasing the bushes a DIY job?

I did it myself on the driveway with stands. Took the wheels off to give me some more room. Undid the end links on the sway bar. Undid the mounts and took the two D bushes out. Cleaned the area, covered the the bushes with heaps of grease, and then put them back in. Can't remember which grease I used as I got some from a mate.

I'm sure someone will let us know if there is a better way to do this.

Also, go for the genuine bushes over polyurethane ones. I had polyurethane for a while. They always started making noises about a month after greasing and I'm lead to believe they wear out faster. They're also about twice the price.

I had this creaking sounds when I accelerate and brake when it is wet. Also gets quiet when dry. It turned out to be engine bushes. The rear bush and the driver side. It was about $600 for parts fully installed.

Try W.E.B suspension on North East Road, Holden Hill http://www.websuspension.com.au/ or even Pedders...

Lots of suggestions, lots of possible causes. Some options are expensive. I'd do some simple fault finding under the car to make sure you are on the right track.

Does the person who ultimately supplies the correct advice win anything?:woot:

I have poly ones on the back of my clapped out magna and I have to agree with everyone else. Steer clear of them like the plague.