[Pcormier66]

I've got an odd squeak from the rear end of my ZLE. For reference, I have BMR adjustable upper and lower trailing arms, adjustable upper control arms and adjustable tie rod. Installed a year ago with no issues. Everything else is stock.

I'm getting a loud squeak from what appears to be the rear suspension. The sound is directly correlated to suspension articulation, including frequency and volume based on the road conditions. I can even hear it with the radio on. I've lubricated all the suspension points, including sway bar brackets, end links, even a bit of lubricant on the heim joints. No luck.

Here's the odd part, when I apply the brakes the squeaks stop 100%. Even with very light brake pressure. I've checked everything I can think of. Everything is tight. Pad are OEM. I even gave the rear calipers a quick brake fluid flush. No change.

I'm stumped. Any hypothesis or direct experience? Thanks.

[GreenZLE]

Originally Posted by Pcormier66

I've got an odd squeak from the rear end of my ZLE. For reference, I have BMR adjustable upper and lower trailing arms, adjustable upper control arms and adjustable tie rod. Installed a year ago with no issues. Everything else is stock.

I'm getting a loud squeak from what appears to be the rear suspension. The sound is directly correlated to suspension articulation, including frequency and volume based on the road conditions. I can even hear it with the radio on. I've lubricated all the suspension points, including sway bar brackets, end links, even a bit of lubricant on the heim joints. No luck.

Here's the odd part, when I apply the brakes the squeaks stop 100%. Even with very light brake pressure. I've checked everything I can think of. Everything is tight. Pad are OEM. I even gave the rear calipers a quick brake fluid flush. No change.

I'm stumped. Any hypothesis or direct experience? Thanks.

I bought and installed the on car adjustables with heim joint ends and didnt put rubber boots on the heim joints. Also, i used petrolium based lube which contaminated and swelled the lining material in the joints. They made the same sound yours makes from your description.\
The solution was to purchase and install new heim joints. This time, I also bought rubber boots for them and a stretching tool to install the boots over the heim ends. I lubed the joints with a silicone based lube that BMR recommended. No more problems after several years!

[Pcormier66]

Good feedback. Did your squeak also stop when applying the brakes? All I can think of is that even slight brake pressure puts lateral load on the suspension that somehow counteracts the tendency to squeak during vertical movement.

What was the lube BMR suggested and did you get new heim joints directly from BMR?

[WhiteMale]

My BMR sway bar frame mounts have been a MF'er. Make sure that with the car up and the end links disconnected, you can move the move the Bar on it's axis with light finger pressure. If you can't do that the frame mount is too tight. Remove the lower bolt and slide a washer under the mount and reinstall the bolt. I haven't had a rod end go bad or be noisy on me. Yet. I had a terrrible squeak back there and finally figured it out. I have all the BMR stuff on my car its just the non-adj pieces.

[Pcormier66]

I'm on the stock sway bar and frame mounts but will try your suggestion. I'm still a miffed why brake pressure mutes the noises.

[GreenZLE]

Originally Posted by Pcormier66

Good feedback. Did your squeak also stop when applying the brakes? All I can think of is that even slight brake pressure puts lateral load on the suspension that somehow counteracts the tendency to squeak during vertical movement.

What was the lube BMR suggested and did you get new heim joints directly from BMR?

I bought a brand new grease gun and Super Lube brand synthetic grease after talking to BMR. I also bought the heim ends direct from BMR.

The rubber boots and pliers came from Summit Racing.

I dont recall if using the brakes stopped or changed it at all. I do remember the problem kept getting worse and worse until they squeaked every time the suspension moved. Drove me crazy so thats when I bought new ends from BMR, boots and grease. The heim ends I took off could only be rotated by prying with a long screw driver. The new ones I could move by hand. It was clear that the liner in the joints swelled.

Unfortunately, I dont have the pn for the rubber boots.

[Pcormier66]

Good to know. Thank you.

[Rnovrit]

Random question. Are you running the stock exhaust or aftermarket? I had a squeak that drove me nuts for a while. Turned out after the Borla exhaust warmed up, it would expand just enough to make the rear hanger on the driver's side rub on the bushing inside the cast bracket attached to the rear crash bar mount. Braking and acceleration would cause it to come and go as well as bumps.

[Pcormier66]

Originally Posted by Rnovrit

Random question. Are you running the stock exhaust or aftermarket? I had a squeak that drove me nuts for a while. Turned out after the Borla exhaust warmed up, it would expand just enough to make the rear hanger on the driver's side rub on the bushing inside the cast bracket attached to the rear crash bar mount. Braking and acceleration would cause it to come and go as well as bumps.

Stock exhaust. Only mods are the rear BMR parts.

[radz28]

I get the same sort of sound, with nearly the same parts (and ZLE cradle bushings, too). I've lubed them with some Amsoil stuff, too, but haven't done the boots yet. I haven't noticed the sound go away with brake application, but I'm going to listen for that now. I wonder if it would have to do with the calipers, in that case. I do, also, have AFE sway bars and BMR rear coils, though.

[calypso50kid]

I developed a similar noise after installing bmr toe links, goes away when lubed but i have to lightly lube them about monthly to keep it at bay

[radz28]

Originally Posted by calypso50kid

I developed a similar noise after installing bmr toe links, goes away when lubed but i have to lightly lube them about monthly to keep it at bay

Interesting. I'm going to give them a shot. My sound presents as a light pop from the passenger's rear. I've used Amsoil Heavy Duty Metal Protector (I think - it was a while ago), and might splash those joints again.

[Evansa22]

My recommendation for heim lube is called TriFlow. Can be picked up at hardware stores for pretty cheap, and my boss swears by it for his son's midget race cars which are all heims. He's been using it for years

[cdb95z28]

SPL > BMR. It's that easy.