ATR rear bar making binding noises??

[jdpolzin]

I have been getting some major creeking noises on my car when the rear suspension flexes. I'm thinking it is the rear ATR bar?? I have UMI tubular lowers on the car and really had to jam that bar in there to get it in place. Whenever it stops snowing I plan to take the bar off and see if it stops but I'm wondering if anybody else has had this happen before?? I have had an ATR bar on other cars and never had a problem but I'm think the fact that the lowers are tubular, they are wider than a Metco squared bar. Any ideas?

 

[zeus87gn]

Do you have poly bushings back there?

 

[jdpolzin]

I just have whatever came in the UMI lower bars. Not sure if they are poly or not?? Do poly bushings make them clang like that?

 

[zeus87gn]

A clang??!!
I though you said (meant) a squeak (creaking).

Poly bushings will squeak (creak) quite annoyingly if not well greased. How do I know? Because I made the mistake of getting LCA that do not have greasable poly bushings. I have to spray them with oil every so often to shut them up.

If something is CLANGING....that sounds like an interference problem.

 

[jdpolzin]

AHHH, yeah this is not a squeek but like a creeking and clanging noise as the rear suspension flexes?? I think it's the rear bar. I know it's not the springs because I just put new ones in and it did it before that.

 

[zeus87gn]

Ooooo....
That's a tough one to diagnose 1000 miles away.
You might better take it to a shop or something.

I'm not familiar with the ATR bar, I would have to see if it is in my old catalog that I kept for the heck of it. Maybe a good picture there.
Have you checked the all the mounting hardware to be sure it's tight?

How about interference with the exhaust?

 

[Renthorin]

I have the ATR bar with UMI tubular lowers on my GN. The lowers are poly and are greasable.

When I pull into a gas station with a big curb lip there is a "metalic sounding" pop from the back.

I am 99% certain it is (and you are also hearing) the bushings saying...no..no..no.....OK...I will move a bit.....

I have zero clearance issues and I have had poly busing before on my front control arms that made the same noise.

Try lubing the hell out of them and see if it goes away. I have looked my system over a few times and nothing is scraping or wearing away.

I think it is just the bushings are under a lot of stress and are suddenly asked to move quite a bit.

 

[1980monteturbo]

bushing bind

Your not alone
I have polys at the back and experienced the same noise, Happens at random. Sounds like someone hit the frame with a sledge hammer. I checked it out , all ok. Its one of those things I cant reproduce on command.
Drove all summer , Havn't lost the rear yet ( knock on wood )
Eventually narrowed it to the bushings . I sprayed rust check and seems to of helped. Been quiet for last 2 months before the snow fell here.

Here I thought it was just me who had this issue.
hth
s.

 

[jdpolzin]

Hmmm?? Good points guys!! I didnt even think to check the grease on the arms!! Do you think there could be a problem with the bolts being too tight? If so, do you guys know a torque spec for them? Thank you for your advice!!!

 

[Gary Wells]

I thought that I heard that Lithium, or the white grease, solved virtually all of the polyuerthane bushings squeak problems? Also,I wouldn't think that overtightening the atr mounting bolts & nuts would hurt anything. HTH

 

[jdpolzin]

Well, I'm thinking maybe the bolts holding the lower control arms may be overtightened as well????

 

[Roc87]

When you put on the ATR bar, was the suspension under a load? Not just hanging there? I had read when I put mine on, that you must put the rear end up on ramps, then put the bar on. In addition I used an angle grinder to grind a small concave area along the bar where the tubular control arms bolt up to on each side. Haven't heard a thing.

 

[Gary Wells]

Well, I'm thinking maybe the bolts holding the lower control arms may be overtightened as well????

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That could be a different story.