Dear fellow P-car owners,

Since some time my 1990 C4 is making a (hard to explain) pieping/scrathing noise comming from the rear left area. It happens when I'm driving on bumpy roads or when I make a turn, especially a left turn.

In the beginning I thought it were the rear seats, rear safety belts, than the rear window, etc ... It's hard to tell but now I am almost sure it comes from the rear left suspension

Its getting worse and worse and is quiet annoying on a for the rest more than lovely car.

I've got the original suspension and original Design 90 wheels.

Does someone have any idea what the cause can be ?

Thank you so much .. its driving me nuts !

WSP964

<img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" /> <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />

 

Maybe the rear anti-roll bar bushes need lubricating (or replacing)?

 

Dear Andy,
I would start at checking the rear wheel bearings. The fact that it is getting worse suggests metal to metal contact without lubrication. It is almost impossible to diagnose noise over the internet. So we start with the basics.
Rip the rear wheels off and have a poke around. Look for leaking rear shocks, as I said check the wheels bearings, check that nothing is loose. Sway bar mounts, make sure they are still there.
You are just going to have to get up close and personal with your C4s rear end. I would also check to see if the inner lining surrounding the engine has come loose as well. The baffles, especially around the kat. Check that your exhasut is still correctly mounted. See if anything has broken away.
Ciao,
Adrian
911C4

 

High WSP,
This is only a suggestion, but I had a metallic grind coming from the rear of my car, and almost by mistake came across the fan assembly to the altenator failed, and required the upgrade, the fan spun all the way down the shaft of the altenator and everything had to be replaced. When the top was up the vibration was so bad I thought it was in the convertable top for a while. After a fix all sounds and vibrations are gone. Maybe something to look into?

 

For me it was all tin metalwork around the exhaust. Screws holding it on corrode and come off. On bumpy roads/corner can move.
J

 

Thanks for all your reply n help guys,

Today I toke off the rear left wheel and got up close n personal with my C4's end !
I checked for leaking shocks, cheked the wheel bearings, metalwork, etc.. all OK.

I also read about the same squeaking on the 993 board and checked out the sway bar (anti-roll bars = same ??) mounts and bushings ... I sprayed them with a lubrificant wax (used for mountainbike chains to counter heavy muddy and dusty roads) as proposed by some 993 guys.

Than I slightly lifted the rubber seal of the rear winshield and sprayed the area between the body and the rubber with some silicone lubri spray. Did the same with the rear left passengers window.

Guess what ?? The squeak is gone ! I do not know which of the 2 jobs did it but its gone.

Just wanted to share this, maybe it might help some of you too. I fear this may not be a permanent solution. I read about some kind of a foam rope used to fix windshield squeaks (993 board). Or just maybe I need new sway bar bushings ?

What do you think what did it and should I go for new bushings ?

Thanks again,

WSP964 <img src="graemlins/a_smil17.gif" border="0" alt="[blabla]" />

 

I think a new set of sway bar mounting bushes would be in order. They are not so expensive and chattering sway bars are not unknown across the whole range of 911s. Inspect them. If they are hard and cracked I would replace them. You will easily see, especially if you remove them if they are gone or not.
Ciao,
Adrian.
911C4