Lowered Ute - Noisy rear end

XR6SQ · 26-09-2010, 11:21 PM

Hey guys,

I recently lowered my ute, well pedders did it for me. They installed sports ryder shocks all round with lowered springs in the front and they reset the rear leafs.

Ever since I had the work done there has been rattling from the rear end when going over bumps or rough roads, is this common with reset leafs? It hasn't been lowered heaps, only a few inchs, so its not bottoming out or anything.

I am going to take it back to them as I have prodded around and can't tell where its coming from, but I thought i might get some suggestions as I don't have the time to take it into them this week.

cheers

**GasoLane** · 27-09-2010, 12:05 PM

Sounds like it could be that part of the exhaust system needs moving.

If you cant take it straight back to them least ring them as soon as you can and tell them the problem, explaining that you cant get it back to them for a week.

That way they cant accuse you of having the car a week and causing the problem yourself.

tezxr8man · 29-09-2010, 07:45 AM

i had a knocking noise from mine after being lowered and it turned out that that it was the u bolts stretched so i tightened them up and prob solved but the noise started bout a week after, also went with super pro eye bushes and don't rate them at all noisy as hell squeeking is just plane irritating

**Mechan1k** · 29-09-2010, 09:06 AM

Have heard that the U-bolts need to be re-tensioned after doing any rear suspension work on the utes.

kenz · 29-09-2010, 02:59 PM

2 of my utes have done that after lowering. Both times ended up being the exhaust hitting on the axle. Had to get the rear section of pipe rebent so it was up higher

robbyj · 29-09-2010, 04:53 PM

When i got my rims + lowered on the sedan, i had an annoying rattle. Turns out the back bumper was loose. It wasn't like that before i got it done, so dunno how it happened. Worth a quick check anyway.

mac_man_luke · 29-09-2010, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tezxr8man

i had a knocking noise from mine after being lowered and it turned out that that it was the u bolts stretched so i tightened them up and prob solved but the noise started bout a week after, also went with super pro eye bushes and don't rate them at all noisy as hell squeeking is just plane irritating

Squeaking bushes would indicate that they were not greased well enough before installation

webby_191189 · 29-09-2010, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tezxr8man

i had a knocking noise from mine after being lowered and it turned out that that it was the u bolts stretched so i tightened them up and prob solved but the noise started bout a week after, also went with super pro eye bushes and don't rate them at all noisy as hell squeeking is just plane irritating

ill second that the super pro eye and shackle bushes are quite noisy and i coated mine in rubber grease when i slipped them in

GK · 30-09-2010, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

If you cant take it straight back to them least ring them as soon as you can and tell them the problem, explaining that you cant get it back to them for a week.

That way they cant accuse you of having the car a week and causing the problem yourself.

Good advice.

I agree with all that have mentioned exhaust issues. The diff is now closer to all exhaust than it used to be.

Also agree with those who've mentioned the bushes. I had to take my wagon back to Pedders for another shot of grease! It was quiet for a while, then of course they started squeaking again.

At it happens, I just used some lithium based spray grease last night on my wagon. It was handy that the can could take a nozzle, to get into the spaces between the leaves.

Haven't driven it yet, but it was nice and sticky, so I hope it will keep the squeaks at bay for a few months. We'll see though! LOL!

GK

azza11 · 02-10-2010, 11:49 AM

When my wagon was lowered they damaged a bush. Replaced it when i brought new shocks, torn shockie bush (upper)

AZZA

XR6SQ · 04-11-2010, 05:09 PM

thanks for all the replys guys, have been without internet for a while.

I was playing around the other day and noticed that it was the smallest leaf banging agains the middle leaf, do I fix this by tightening the U bolts??

**GasoLane** · 04-11-2010, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6SQ

I was playing around the other day and noticed that it was the smallest leaf banging agains the middle leaf, do I fix this by tightening the U bolts??

Umm, Leaf springs should flex, not bang! If your U bolts are loose so will be the handling

XR6SQ · 04-11-2010, 05:37 PM

your telling me, hence I have a problem...

The 3 largest leaves (not sure if this plural works in the suspension world) flex but the smallest one is making the slapping noise when it slaps against the others.

I have tomorrow off so I will get it checked out. As I just read that the tension of U bolts etc is pretty vital.

webby_191189 · 04-11-2010, 09:47 PM

the small one at the bottom would be the overloader, designed to stop the springs from going over centre with weight put in the back. If you have had your springs reset (flattened) it can make the ride softer so it hits the overloader leaf more often. To get rid of the noise just put some rubber over the spring and ziptie it there