I swear, this car is gonna drive me to the asylum. One step forward then two back. Ok, 99 has the coveted ROW 30 suspension. Love it and it's been flawless. I installed a tecquipment roll bar recently and now the suspension is squeaking when turning. WTF? Totally new symptom. What has this roll bar done to my car? Too stiff?

This is more of a rant than a help me post since the answer is probably going to force me to donate plasma and sperm for parts cash.

 

Are you sure the squeak is coming from the suspension? Could be steering etc. Can the noise be reproduced while at a standstill? Easier to diagnosis if so.

 

Good call and yes, only steering come to think of it.

 

I would first check for any binding with the end links. Did you use stock end links? You could always take the bars off and see if that fixes the squeaking. They are pretty quick and easy to swap without throwing parts at it.

 

The ROW30 was Porsche installed and has been on the car for years. I am trying to correlate the steering squeak suddenness with the roll bar install.

 

Are the bolts holding the bar tight?

 

First rule of mechanics - always go back to the last thing you did. You installed the roll bar and now it squeaks. Remove the roll bar completely and see if the squeak goes away. If so, put some silicone grease on the roll bar attachment points and bushings when you put it back on. If the squeak is still there with the roll bar removed, then some other part of the suspension or steering rack needs to be checked.

 

Are the bushing for the new sway the proper size? Are they new?

 

It could be that the roll bar tightened up the chassis ever so slightly where your bushings for the steering rack bracket is binding just enough to squeak. IIRC, you have a '99 C2 which has slightly less stiff frame, especially in the front tub area than the c4 and mk2 models. Maybe loosen and remove steering rack bushing one at a time and lube it with heavy duty marine lube(or the same stuff they use on swaybar bushings).

 

Resurrecting my own thread. I haven't had time to dig into the squeak. Alps, are the bushings you mention easy to get to? I will see if I can find a diagram.

 

Do you have any polyurethane bushings? The major complaint when using polyurethane bushings is squeak.

 

Honestly I never tried on a 996 model. You may want to spray some lubricant in the area first to see if it changes anything.

 

That's the plan tonight. Research also points to lower control arm bushings. I will report back in the morning.

 

Those bushings are the easiest part of a 996 suspension to remove/replace or lube. Maybe 5 minutes a pop once the car is on stands.

 

Well, just came in from the garage. Everything got a nice lubing (the suspension, you freaks). On jack stands, the noise is gone. On the ground it sounds like an old farm truck. After the lube session the horrendous squeaking is still there. It squeaks over bumps and when turning wheel.

Since the symptoms didn't appear until after the roll bar install, it is coming out this weekend.