Freelander 1 Rear suspension squeak

Avocet1 · Dec 10, 2020

Hi all, I have a rear suspension squeak / creak noise. Happens with very small suspension movements (e.g. on pretty smooth roads). It sounds like the sort of noise you'd get from a rubber bush. Pressing on the towball with my foot and moving the back of the car up and down by very small amounts will reproduce it, but with larger suspension movements (e.g. a few inches) are quiet.

Does anyone have any suggestions, please, as to where I might start looking? Is there any common issue (e.g. anti roll bar bushes) that I should check first?

GrumpyGel · Dec 10, 2020

Not sure I follow the problem. Has anything fallen off yet?

htr · Dec 10, 2020

Common issue/s = Yes

Have a very careful look at the driver's side of the rear sub-frame. The Front mounting point in particular.
Use a good torch /light... The chassis rail that the subframe bolts too often cracks at this point.

GrumpyGel · Dec 10, 2020

htr said:
Common issue/s = Yes

Have a very careful look at the driver's side of the rear sub-frame. The Front mounting point in particular.
Use a good torch /light... The chassis rail that the subframe bolts too often cracks at this point.
View attachment 224881
View attachment 224882

Its a good point, but if I'm not mistaken Avocet's already done a "better than new" strengthened repair to that.

Avocet1 · Dec 10, 2020

Thanks guys. Yes, I did. There's a "how-to" somewhere ion here for that, and it's not quite the same noise this time.

@Grumpy, yeah, it's cold and dark outside. This makes me selectively deaf for the moment, but at some point, I think I might have to actually DO something about it!

GrumpyGel · Dec 10, 2020

Avocet1 said:
Thanks guys. Yes, I did. There's a "how-to" somewhere ion here for that, and it's not quite the same noise this time.

@Grumpy, yeah, it's cold and dark outside. This makes me selectively deaf for the moment, but at some point, I think I might have to actually DO something about it!

I've had loads of creaks and rattles over the years (coming from the Freelander that is). When they are beginning to get to the stage where investigation is needed - I simply put noisy stuff in the boot - stuff that rolls around when you corner or go over a bump, and makes a noise when it hits something else - metally stuff is best. Then you can't really make out whether the noise is coming from the car or the stuff in the boot so you don't worry about it. It works wonders - after a few months you clear the boot out and what ever was making the noise has long since stopped making it and you fixed it without ever having to do anything. In 10 years of ownership of what is now a car that's over 20 years old, I've never replaced anything on the suspension.

I did once have a creak from the front that I did do something about. It only happened on acceleration pulling away. I was wondering what this creak was for a good few weeks. Then just for giggles, cos it couldn't be, I pulled away with the drivers door open a bit and it didn't creak. Close the door, it creaked, open the door, it didn't creak. So knowing it was the door rubber, left it.

GrumpyGel · Dec 10, 2020

GrumpyGel said:
I've had loads of creaks and rattles over the years (coming from the Freelander that is). When they are beginning to get to the stage where investigation is needed - I simply put noisy stuff in the boot - stuff that rolls around when you corner or go over a bump, and makes a noise when it hits something else - metally stuff is best. Then you can't really make out whether the noise is coming from the car or the stuff in the boot so you don't worry about it. It works wonders - after a few months you clear the boot out and what ever was making the noise has long since stopped making it and you fixed it without ever having to do anything. In 10 years of ownership of what is now a car that's over 20 years old, I've never replaced anything on the suspension.

I did once have a creak from the front that I did do something about. It only happened on acceleration pulling away. I was wondering what this creak was for a good few weeks. Then just for giggles, cos it couldn't be, I pulled away with the drivers door open a bit and it didn't creak. Close the door, it creaked, open the door, it didn't creak. So knowing it was the door rubber, left it.

I should say that the above technique should prove successful for all Freelander owners. I have actually perfected this technique for mine. I have a tow bar and the electrics socket is mounted on a metal plate that's welded to the towbar mount. Or rather was welded to it, I broke it off on a rock on a river bed and it was left dangling by the wires. So metal plate and socket get stuffed up under the bumper resting between towbar mount and the bumper - it has never worked itself to fall out, but does bounce around on the towbar mount and make a bit of racket. Perfect noise to mask squeaks and creaks and I lose no boot space

SWalker · Dec 10, 2020

My father had a trooper at one stage - the squeaks and creaks from the front didnt bother him but everyone else. he sorted it by.. dont try this at home.. filling the spray gun with diesel and going at all moving parts!!!!

GrumpyGel · Dec 10, 2020

SWalker said:
My father had a trooper at one stage - the squeaks and creaks from the front didnt bother him but everyone else. he sorted it by.. dont try this at home.. filling the spray gun with diesel and going at all moving parts!!!!

I like his style

My mate used to have a Trooper. It was decent enough for what it was. Funnily enough I was going through photos to work out how long I've had the Freelander and one of the last lot of pics from before the Freelander was a holiday we took in the Disco with matey's family in his Trooper. It was pelting down with rain as we went over the Hundalee Ranges towards Kaikoura when the Trooper's wipers packed up

Matey knew all about the Disco though and that it would spew its coolant out if we stopped, so wasn't to upset as we waved as we drove past

SWalker · Dec 10, 2020

he used to complain about the brakes, but then again he did tow 20 ton cherry pickers with it!!!

Freelander 1 Rear suspension squeak

Avocet1

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GrumpyGel

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htr

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GrumpyGel

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Avocet1

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GrumpyGel

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GrumpyGel

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SWalker

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GrumpyGel

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SWalker

Active Member

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