spray everything with WD40 for creak?

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I have an, as of yet, unidentified creak SOMEWHERE in my front suspension/steering area. I've had it looked at twice so far and they can find nothing. I don't see anything but I am not a mechanic, obviously. Last night I was given the suggestion of spraying everything with WD40 to see if this helps. This seems to be a reasonable idea (?). I guess I should give it a try and just try to not get the stuff on the engine due to fire hazard? Any thoughts?
 
Sounds like a bushing is waring!
I have done similar things to help eliminate or pinpoint suspension noises/creaks. Be careful where your spraying and keep the sprey away from brakes.

If spraying WD or whatever your using does get rid of the noise/creak, keep in mind that it's only temporary
smile.gif
 
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Get some silicone spray instead of wd40. you have less chance of damanging rubber components with silicone spray than, say, wd40.

Q.

I used that on wifey's 04 camry rear sway bar bushing one winter (about 2 yrs ago, unidentified creaking sound during one cold morning) and it never came back...guess that fixed the problem eh?
 
If it were me, I'd use Super Lube spray. Be careful with some of those silicone sprays because they contain a high percentage of pertroleum products. I have a can of Gunk Silicone spray that stinks of petroleum when I use it.
 
Originally Posted By: joaks
Char: do you know how I can find it? Everytime the car is in the shop, the noise is gone (?).


You'll need a partner or yourself under the vehicle and do the bounce test while the other one of you pushes the vechile up & down(as in checking for bad shocks/struts). This noise/creak may disapear when your mechanic puts the car on the lift which in turns, takes all of the weight of the suspension. That's the way things happen unfortunatly. I'm assuming that your mecahinc put the vehicle in the air and checks for creaks this way...I may be wrong!

But anyway, spray the whole suspension with(I also like silicone) and test drive the vehicle.
 
Well, I sprayed everything I could find (within reason) and the noise is still there
frown.gif
On the plus side the noise is getting worse so maybe the shop will be able to diagnose it
confused.gif
 
I found online somewhere else where the strut itself was dry (need grease). My struts are under a year old, surely thats not it (??)
 
Originally Posted By: joaks
Well, I sprayed everything I could find (within reason) and the noise is still there
frown.gif
On the plus side the noise is getting worse so maybe the shop will be able to diagnose it
confused.gif



Occasionally the WD 40 will actually release any tension between parts which would make the noise more common and more obvious.

Spray some more WD 40 on where you did previously maybe it will cause the squeak to be plainly obvious.
 
Urchin: that seems to be what happened. I used some spray silicone lube and the noise is worse than ever. I figured it was just getting worse with time rapidly.
I had heard the problem could be a stabilizer bar sticking, and that is what I hit the most. Grease would maybe help then? Can I grease it without taking it off? (not actually sure that is the problem btw).

EDIT: I could also use the spray white grease instead of the silicone. I have not used it before, perhaps is thicker?
 
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joaks:

I wouldn't bother with anything unless you are almost positive about the location of the noise. (You don't want to create another issue).

I would try the scoobie forums you may actually get the answer you need a lot quicker than here.
 
Check your hood hinges and bump stops. I had a squeaking noise that I thought was coming from the front suspension, only to eventually find that I needed to apply grease to the hard rubber bump stops because they were rubbing on paint.
 
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