That Chirp is DRIVING ME INSANE

[FrancoT]

I hate it. I can't get rid of it. The chrip that happens when my car goes over a dip or turns slight right. It sounds like a bird. I took it to Midas and they said that all the bushings were fine. Any chance it could just use a serious lube?

[Indy8]

Is it a metallic kind of chirp or maybe dry rubber?

[FrancoT]

It sounds to me as though it is a metallic chirp. It is really really annoying and no mechanic has been able to find out where it is originating from. It sounds just like a small bird chirping away. It gets worse when it is cold. I don't hear it in the summer.

[Indy8]

So you think it's in the suspension?

[FrancoT]

I would say it is, but if I manually make the car bounce I can't recreate the sound. I have no idea how to recreate the sound. It specifically happens when the car is turning slight right or if I hit a dip.

[Indy8]

I would grease everything with a fitting, then start spraying either silicone or Liquid Wrench in all places of possible friction or interference. Most often it's somewhere in the coil spring cups or strut bearing plate.

[dmorlow]

Ok, I think it is the same problem I had. You can't recreate it by just making the car bounce up and down with you pushing on it. The force of hitting a bump at 60 MPH versus you pushing on it is two different worlds. I am almost sure it is the bushing in the control arm. I had the same annoying squeak when I turned right and when hitting bumps. I took it to about every suspension shop and everyone said it was fine and it was something in the dash. I finally gave up and took it to the dealer and told them to do whatever to make it go away. And it ended up being the busing in the control arm.

[FrancoT]

Take some liquid wrench and spray it all over the control arm. It will go away! I fixed mine!!!

[Indy8]

Can you remove and grease the pivot bolt? That's really what should be done once you isolate the spot.

[TSLDave]

It could still be the struts. If you bounce the car by hand, it may be too slow to cause the vibration in the reed valving in the strut. The strut compression when driving is a lot faster. If you hold a piece of paper edge wise and blow slowly over the edge, it won't make a sound. But, blow fast and it will vibrate and make a noise.

Originally Posted by FrancoT

I hate it. I can't get rid of it. The chrip that happens when my car goes over a dip or turns slight right. It sounds like a bird. I took it to Midas and they said that all the bushings were fine. Any chance it could just use a serious lube?

[onehunglow]

I bet you that chirp comes from INSIDE your car - I had it and spent a month hunting it down

Remove the big panel under the steering wheel (comes off without bolts) - then you will see a large metal panel - wiggle/shake it - I bet you will hear that noise.

Tighten the bolts (you will see one is loose) the chhirping comes from a metal tab used to hold that panel onto a metal frame - metal rubbing on metal...common pronblem I was told at the dealers

Anyways..after an exhaustive search - I have peace at last

[dougsoval]

My chirp was from worn brake shoes, (fronts). It really bugged me, esp. at highway speeds.

I switched out the pads (today) and it is all great!

[ugsrich]

Get some Silicon Spray and squirt it on the rubber bushings on top of the shock towers under the hood. Don't use petroleum based lubricants...SILICON SPRAY only!

[97 silverbullet]

chirp

[chris_fit]

I have a problem like this too... Sometimes it chirps sometimes it doesn't. When the car is loaded with 3+ people the chances of it chirping are much higher. Something in the suspension? It seems like its coming from the inside though