My car squeaks

[Chris]

I've noticed lately that my car creaks and squeaks a lot more than it used to. I know that it's inevitable as the car gets older, but I'm wondering if there is anything that can be done to restore the chassis back to its original tight state?

[Khyron]

Re: My car squeaks

I've aways had trouble with the crappy window seals - they squeak like mad unless you roll them down 1/8 inch or so. I think every rattle/creak has to be addressed on its own though, they are all different.

[Kor]

Re: My car squeaks

Identify where the squeaks are from.

I got rid of some on my Jetta... each one was its own problem that I had to address.

- Gummy pheldge on weather stripping
- lube on hinges (doors, seats)
- Some plastic panels can be popped off and you can use tape or cloth to pad them on the backs or where they clip into place
- you could soundproof with dynomat, might help
etc

[Billip]

Re: My car squeaks

I had lots of squeaks around my doors in the GTI and Dave @ SCFC put silicone spray lubricant on all the rubber around the doors... that really helped. It was a lot better after that, but came back after a while. I was going to do it again myself but then I sold the car.

So try that! I think you can pick up the spray silicone lubricant at Crappy Tire.

[Chris]

Re: My car squeaks

Thanks for all the tips, boys.

I'm concerned that the creaking sounds are coming from my entire chassis, though...

When I am pulling out of a driveway slowly and have the wheels turned all the way to one direction and at the point where the car comes down the curb, it seems like my entire chassis is flexing / shearing and creaking as a result of the strain.

Even when I take corners quickly I hear / feel the same thing. Albeit to a lesser degree.

So would an additional sway bar (front) and a strut tower brace help at all? Or would I need to get a full on roll cage to make any difference?

[Billip]

Re: My car squeaks

I used to get some of those noises with the rear sway bar. I think to a certain degree some of those sounds may be normal.

Be aware that putting on a front sway bar will induce more understeer/reduce the effect of the rear sway bar.

[Chris]

Re: My car squeaks

Maybe that's what it is - the addition of the rear sway bar. I've only begun noticing it this last little while so that's probably it.

Maybe I should just weld my doors shut to increase rigidity and get into / out of my car dukes of hazzard style.

[Stonewall]

Re: My car squeaks

If it is coming from the front it could be the strut bearings. Mine always made noise when backing out of my garage and now it makes none.

[Kor]

Re: My car squeaks

You could try taking off the sway bar or better yet lube and check the bushings.

You could get strut tower bars, they will increase the rigidity of the car and might help. They are pretty cheap too. And look cool.

Sway bar in the front is probably useless to help with this. Your car already has one, you would just be getting a thicker one and it will induce understeer as already said.