Swaybar Creaking [Archive]

luzinit

10-10-2005, 11:10 AM

Hey guys,
After a few months of installation of my whiteline sway, it seems as though my swaybar creaks from the left side everytime i go over an imperfection on the road. It's driving me nuts. I've sprayed silicon spray on the bushings roughly but the sound is still there (main reason is because its so damn hard to access under neath the car cos its too low).

So my question, does it sound like a simple fix by lubricating the bushings or is it something else? I've checked and tightened the bolts, didn't help either.

AFAIK, when It was installed, only the D bolt bushings were lubed, not the endlink ones, are both meant to be lubed?

Also i've noticed the sway making an lil dent on the LCA on one side of the car, is this normal?

jdmlvn

10-10-2005, 11:12 AM

take it back to hanny's mate, let them give it a check

Astro

10-10-2005, 11:49 AM

Tony..i had the same problem when i got mine installed...took it back and re checked it and everything was tight as a cnut...anway what i did was loosen the D clamps and re tightened it so that the 2 bolts at the back of the D clamp was evenly tight on both bolts...hope u get what i mean...

pm me if u need more info.

-MuGen PoWer-

10-10-2005, 12:22 PM

i got a similar problem if i go up a really steep driveway.

bennjamin

10-10-2005, 12:27 PM

id say a mix between ur rear springs touching coils and lack of lubrication at contact points - perhaps install coil sleeves too ?

wynode

10-10-2005, 12:45 PM

You don't have to lubricate the endlinks but you can if you want. Has the swaybar always been making the creek or is it only now?

As said, with both rear wheels level try loosening and re-tightening the mount bolts + lubricate the D-bushes if they aren't lubricated properly!

Also i've noticed the sway making an lil dent on the LCA on one side of the car, is this normal?

Dent on the LCA ?? That's not a good sign Tony.....got a pic !?

BlitZ

10-10-2005, 09:55 PM

jsut make sure the creaking isnt a cracked subframe...........

else its just needs some servicing (lubricatant/retightening)..

BlitZ

10-10-2005, 09:56 PM

Hey guys,

Also i've noticed the sway making an lil dent on the LCA on one side of the car, is this normal?

it might sound dumb
but make sure your sway bar isnt upside down... the kinks at the end should go upwards.,.,.

luzinit

11-10-2005, 03:52 PM

id say a mix between ur rear springs touching coils and lack of lubrication at contact points - perhaps install coil sleeves too ?

nope cant be that, because i have rubber tubing around it, and it doesnt squeak when it bounces.. so its not the shocks n springs, it only squeaks when, say im trying to exit driveway without mashin my lip..

luzinit

11-10-2005, 03:53 PM

hey daniel, wats a crack subframe look/sound like and how do i look for it? ive had a look under the car and nothing seems torn, but i cant see behind the diamond mounting plate..

bennjamin

11-10-2005, 04:00 PM

Tony - does the sound "sound" like muffled two heavy bits of metal clanking together ? ( liek two bar weights clanking?!) Mine does the same when avoiding front damage(front of Hannys etc) or VERY hard low speed cornering...Wojtek assures me its just the chassis clunking around ?

luzinit

11-10-2005, 04:18 PM

its weird ben, cos it didnt happen before.. just only recently.... driving me crazy hehe. sometimes it actually clunks, sounds like metal flexing then suddenly snappin in place n hittin something else.. gonna get some jackstands tonite n take the sway off and reinstall. sigh! ill take pics.

barefootbonzai

11-10-2005, 04:32 PM

must be a common things with sway bars, same has happened to me. In the begining when first installed there was no noise, but now there is. It drove me crazy too, on the weekend i took it all out greased everything and reinstalled it again and the noise is gone. I really have no idea what it was but bloody annoying alright.

00' coupe

11-10-2005, 05:54 PM

check to see if your coilovers on the back is screwed in properly... that might be the bangin sound... open your boot and remove the carpet and check... i had bad banging noises and thats because they didnt screw in my coilovers properly... you could turn the bolts with your fingers!

when the noise started i thought it was my sway too but it was the loose coilovers...

BlitZ

11-10-2005, 06:11 PM

hey daniel, wats a crack subframe look/sound like and how do i look for it? ive had a look under the car and nothing seems torn, but i cant see behind the diamond mounting plate..

Picture from a friend of mine.. after seeing it i even removed my bar.. freaked me out...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/civic168/e3042425.jpg

BlitZ

11-10-2005, 06:13 PM

make sure u riase the car when chekcing it..
if your car is on 4 wheels the gap would not be seen...

one of the symptoms is creaking...

creaking is also normal with all sway bars.. but it gets really loud once it happens

bennjamin

11-10-2005, 06:24 PM

more info on the subframe shown plz ! Car ? Age ? previous damage ? type of swaybar ?

Looks like it was a beaks-kit ?

luzinit

11-10-2005, 06:56 PM

mmm thanks for pic dan! mines not cracked thats for sure.. cos car was on the hoist at hannys and had a close look at everything.. ffs, gonna unintall and reinstall. I hate EK's, its a bitch to have alook/adjust the rear shocks/dampers... have to take speakers out each time.

chameleon

13-10-2005, 11:51 AM

more info on the subframe shown plz ! Car ? Age ? previous damage ? type of swaybar ?

Looks like it was a beaks-kit ?

i second that. Im about to get a rear sway bar too.
i want to know more

BlitZ

13-10-2005, 02:50 PM

nah he doesnt want to reveil the name of the bar...
After seeing the pics i freaked out.. I removed mine too....
Put it this way.. if your ever getting a sway for a civic (non r) make sure u get connecting tie bar or beaks kit..

Put it this way the bar was on an EK4 and had a reinforcement kit.. it was from a 96" civic hatch vtir

The reinforcement kit is designed so that the 2 holes wont thread.... and not to prevent this from happening...

Make sure you are running some crazy ass hard hard springs too or say good bye to subframe..

After seeing what happen to my friend and the cost of this repair bill i removed mine for assurance.... an am concentrating on other aspects of handling...

pretty happy and content without the sway bar atm.. but sway bar is the ultimate mod..

bigteethygrin

13-10-2005, 02:51 PM

was that hte front or rear??

BlitZ

13-10-2005, 02:57 PM

There was no previous damage... the subframe was torn at wakefield.. 22mm

wynode

14-10-2005, 01:21 AM

was that hte front or rear??
Rear.

I've had a 22mm bar onthe back of my EG for years and tracked it with no damage. Go figure.

luzinit

14-10-2005, 10:07 AM

how many times have u tracked it wyn??

egSi

14-10-2005, 10:18 AM

i have this prob too, squeaking all the time, annoyin as ****. i have tried the springs and its not that, ill reinstall and see what happens.

only since puttin on my 22mm bar.

^ was that helpful LOL :p

wynode

14-10-2005, 11:01 AM

how many times have u tracked it wyn??
Tony, taken it to wakefield twice and driven it pretty hard around corners.

Blitz, i'm not saying it can't happen........just saying I haven't had problems with my swaybar :)

BlitZ

14-10-2005, 12:14 PM

Tony, taken it to wakefield twice and driven it pretty hard around corners.

Blitz, i'm not saying it can't happen........just saying I haven't had problems with my swaybar :)

nah its fine... It doesnt happen to everyone... there are plently of people with a 22mm rear sway and its been fine..

jsut something to be aware about.

i know of plently of people who track it and there cars are fine. and there are those who get it ripped off.. somthing to always keep in the back of the mind thats all

I had a 22mm on my car for abour 1 year.. it was ok during that period

BlitZ

14-10-2005, 12:15 PM

it would also put the idea of running soft springs with large sway bars to rest as discussed awhile ago.. the softer the spring the more stress on the sway = more chances of getting it ripped off

civlowwer

14-10-2005, 06:48 PM

ok, when i dump my car it makes the noise, but when i have it at nomal height its fine, the problem is your Lower control arm, the sway bar is sitting on the LCA which inturns makes the noise. i have coilovers so i have been playin around with my whole suspension setup, i have a whiteline swaybar at the rear, and my swaybar sits on the lca and makes the same noise, so annoying, but when you got ur swaybar installed by any chance did u get ur spring installed at the same time, if you did, it explains why it has only happin in the last few months, ur spring have dropped over time and now is sitting on the lca.

this might be the problem but it might not be, dunno without having a look at it.

if its not the problem please tell me, thanks

damien

wynode

14-10-2005, 07:18 PM

civlowwer

15-10-2005, 04:39 PM

And the point of that post was??

Both your swaybar endlinks and the springs/shocks/coilovers are connected to your LCA but they don't just 'sit on the LCA'.

gee now we have more smartass ppl on this forum, and for one that has so many post on a very good forum, i would think that you would understand, so heres a picture for you to understand.

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/5066/dsc001592dx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

now if you look, the swaybar is sitting on the LCA and when you go for a drive it creaks. now go figure what the point of ur post was. have some respect for other ppl and stop trying to flame them.

luzinit

15-10-2005, 11:09 PM

civiclower: yeh i completely agree with u man!! that COULD be it.. my car, on one side i can see it slightly rubbing the LCA, hasnt gone to the extent of urs tho!!! i will put tape around that and see if the noise goes away.. thanks for ur input man!

barefootbonzai

15-10-2005, 11:18 PM

hey civlowwer, can you take some more pics. Quite interesting what you got there, I originally thought it was that making the sound in my car. How low is your car?

Chi

15-10-2005, 11:31 PM

I suggest u guys upgrade the bolts supplied from whiteline if u are using those kits.

I thought they were a bit weak and not high tensile.

luzinit

16-10-2005, 11:37 AM

yeh i noticed that they are lower than ur standard oem bolt in strength.. why is this? and where do u get stronger bolts chi??

bennjamin

16-10-2005, 05:39 PM

Cost factor...the replacement item costs about $10 each bolt for a "10" (OEM strength). Still dosent make sense when it is our saftey....

You can pick up custom bolts from places such as "Conventry fasteners" (located in Castle hill) etc. Id look at it for sure Tony !

yeh i noticed that they are lower than ur standard oem bolt in strength.. why is this? and where do u get stronger bolts chi??

wynode

16-10-2005, 08:21 PM

Post a pic of the full setup (swaybar+subfram+LCAs) with info on how much your car is lowered. The swaybar shouldn't be touching the LCA. Silly question but is your swaybar upside down ?

gee now we have more smartass ppl on this forum, and for one that has so many post on a very good forum, i would think that you would understand, so heres a picture for you to understand.

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/5066/dsc001592dx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

now if you look, the swaybar is sitting on the LCA and when you go for a drive it creaks. now go figure what the point of ur post was. have some respect for other ppl and stop trying to flame them.

bennjamin

16-10-2005, 08:41 PM

Is this an older design - non-angled unlike our whiteline setups (to clear the very "touching LCA" issue we speak of) - some KMAC swaybars are like this...
OR yes, it is obviously installed upside-down !
still - post up pix of the enitre subframe plz !

Chi

17-10-2005, 12:40 AM

yeh i noticed that they are lower than ur standard oem bolt in strength.. why is this? and where do u get stronger bolts chi??

Come to GPC one day, pull out the bolts and ill find some ones to replace.

Thats where i got mine from.

BlitZ

17-10-2005, 10:42 AM

civlowwer

17-10-2005, 11:24 AM

here's one off whiteline
http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/9015/untitled7qj.png (http://imageshack.us)

here's mine
http://img430.imageshack.us/img430/9559/dsc001624wf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/1193/dsc001638ur.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6444/dsc001644zv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/6998/dsc001658ou.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2553/dsc001617li.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/6696/dsc001665gd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

the car sit very low under the body, its' about 50-60mm, i have HD systems coilovers, with omni-power camber kit for the rear, whiteline (BHR76) rear swaybar, with different springs in, it sits on the ground. atm the car is sitting alot higher due to the rear swaybar rubbing.

Specs on my car when standard:
1997 Honda Civic GLi Sedan EK1 with front oem swaybar and no rear swaybar.

bennjamin

17-10-2005, 11:44 AM

Ahh - try installing your swaybar the opposite way- take off the bar and install it "upside-down" And , it will not creak /rub the LCA at all :) Should be fine after that -

Whiteline

17-10-2005, 01:21 PM

Hi All,

Don't mean to barge in... just picked this up by accident.

civlowwer,
It looks like you have mounted the chassis brackets back to front. The metal tubes which are welded to these brackets must be between the bracket and the chassis.

The sway bar itself looks fine, it is not upside down.

Best of luck.

Regards,
Wojtek.

barefootbonzai

17-10-2005, 01:50 PM

Nice spot Whitleline. Guess working there helps ay :)

joyride

17-10-2005, 03:44 PM

gee now we have more smartass ppl on this forum, and for one that has so many post on a very good forum, i would think that you would understand, so heres a picture for you to understand.

now if you look, the swaybar is sitting on the LCA and when you go for a drive it creaks. now go figure what the point of ur post was. have some respect for other ppl and stop trying to flame them.
how long have you been driving around with it rubbing? you should of noticed it was wrong when the swaybar was rubbing on the LCA. rofl.

egSi

18-10-2005, 11:46 AM

" swaybar is not upside down, the mounts r back to front" ROFL!

anyways mines was still creaking, same as tonys. i grease eveyrthing up etc and yesterday i thought maybe my mounts were loose so i chucked a spanner on em and to my surprise they were a lil loose. i have since tightened em up and there is no noise at all, woot.

lol. i guess uve tried that tony

Zdster

18-10-2005, 11:59 AM

Guess you have to update your diy Trav. Tighten everything! I need to double check mine as well.

luzinit

22-11-2005, 06:41 PM

ok i FINALLY fixed this thing.

after numerous tries at JUST relubing the D bushings and bolts evenly to no avail, we jacked it up today, set the swaybar to the stiffer setting of 24mm, so it actually clears the LCA abit better.

took off the bushings, wiped it clean and relubed and tightened the bolts, make sure u dont tighten it too tight to warp the bushings. umm, from previous times that ive retigthened the mounts, the bracket was actually bent, so straightened those out with a hammer.

that fixed out most of the creaking/popping associated with going over uneven inclines etc.

and finally, tubby n i jumped up n down on my car whilst slim listened for lil minor squeaks, seemed to have come from where the LCA mounts to the subframe, sprayed a SHITLOAD of silicon spray, and all good!!!

NO MORE SQUEAKS and creaks. thank goodness, was really starting to hate my car.

props to slim n tubby for helping out, champs (Y)

mods can close this if u guys want, hopefully it will help alot of others out there too, as i know its DAMN annoying.