I bought rear shock mounts from mzmtg. I put them on some 4 months ago when I changed my suspension to H&Rs and Illuminas. About one month after that, I started hearing squeaking noise coming from the rear. I thought it’s a temporary thing, but it never went away. Actually, it has gotten much, much worse with time.

Here are some facts I have been able to gather about the noise throughout this time:

1) Both sides of the rear make noise. No, it is not the shocks making noise. It is coming from where the mounts are. No, it is also not the springs either. The noise is honestly a very loud squeaking.
2) The noise happens all the time.
3) When I am outside the car and rock each side, it definitely makes noise. The front (with reused OEM mounts) obviously does not.
4) The noise is a metal-against-metal type of squeaking.

I am not trying to diss mzmtg’s rear shock mounts. I am simply speculating that these mounts may indeed cause the noise. Why?

Well, again, I am only speculating, but I helped my friend put on his suspension, which is also H&Rs with Illuminas. We did everything exactly identical to what I did, EXCEPT we did NOT put on mzmtg’s rear shock mounts. Instead, we reused the OEM ones. His rear makes absolutely no noise at all.

I guess the really one way to tell for sure is by taking them off again and replacing mzmtg’s shock mounts with the oem. If the noise disappears, I can certainly say that mzmtg’s shock mounts were at fault.

Other suggestions? Has anyone else here with H&Rs and Illuminas experience this?

 

I am not trying to diss mzmtg’s rear shock mounts. I am simply speculating that these mounts may indeed cause the noise. Why?

Well, again, I am only speculating, but I helped my friend put on his suspension, which is also H&Rs with Illuminas. We did everything exactly identical to what I did, EXCEPT we did NOT put on mzmtg’s rear shock mounts. Instead, we reused the OEM ones. His rear makes absolutely no noise at all.

I guess the really one way to tell for sure is by taking them off again and replacing mzmtg’s shock mounts with the oem. If the noise disappears, I can certainly say that mzmtg’s shock mounts were at fault.

Other suggestions? Has anyone else here with H&Rs and Illuminas experience this?[/QUOTE]



you should test out your last statement by taking the rears off and seeing if that is the problem first before blaming the shocks mounts.

 

Did you replace the other components of the rear suspension? You say the noise started AFTER you replaced the springs/shocks rather than after you installed the mounts? Did you install spring isolators on the H&Rs?

 

Here's something I tried that seems to have helped. I've got a really similar setup, except that the I've got the Motivational mounts. I had the same metal squeaking so I put a gasket between the mounts and strut tower. I just happened to have some gasket material around, so I cut out something shaped like the mount. Seems to have eliminated the sound.

 

you know, I was thinking of doing so. The stock gasket is red and I'm thinking it may not be enough for mzmtg's mounts because they are obviously of different shape. Also, the way it presses against the strut tower is different from how the stock mount does. BTW, what gasket material would you recommend?

To others: I asked because I wanted to see if anyone else had this problem. After all, taking the rear suspension out is not a 10 minute job, more like a 2 hour job...at least for me.

 

umm, you don't understand, I replaced everything at once. I didn't do mounts on a different day...I did it all at the same time.

 

What is probably happening is that the shock piston is contacting the sides of the hole in the mount.

Unload the rear sustension by getting both back wheels off the ground.
Loosen the shock piston nut and make sure the piston is centered in the mount.
Tighten the nut so that at least 6 threads are showing (as shown in the installation instructions for the mounts).

If this doesnt work, you may have to remove and reinstall the mounts, being extra careful to make sure the protrusions on the rubber bushings fully seat into the center holes of the mounts.

 

Thanks, I'll try that. BTW, when you say "loosen the shock piston...", how much should I loosen it? Won't it "pop" from pressure?

Also, once loose, it can be moved around?

 

Don't remove it completely, just loosen it a few turns and see if you can wiggle it enough to get the bushings to slide back into the hole.

It's worth a shot if you're trying to avoid taking the suspension apart again.

 

$20 it's the strut mount contacting the chassis where it bolts in and the stock gasket isn't large enough to cover the area. I had the ME strut mounts and never had any sound. What I used in place of the OEM mounts was a two hole 2.5" ID exhaust gasket you can get at any autoparts store. With minimal trimming, you can get the holes of the gasket to slide over of the threads of the mount. The width and thickness of the gasket seems to work perfectly plus they're cheap ($1-2).

 

Appreciate the help. I will try this also. Actually, that's what I thought it was from the beginning, but I just have to do it and see.

 

i think i am going to use the exhaust gaskets too

 

I have squeeking from only one side and it is going on with almost every little bump. Sounds like a rubber-metal squeek. I've been too lazy to deal with it.

 

yes i have the same adzact problem with my rear suspension and i just purchased new rear shocks and some lowering springs, the noise just started out of no where i didint doing thing but normal use, i took to mechanic and dude said it was the struts, i dont know what to do, should i get shock mounts to or what?

 

Did you have a stock setup, get diagnosed there is a problem with your rear suspension, the purchase new rear shocks and put on lowering springs?

If you have a problem in the rear with your shocks you'll need to find out why the rear shock blew that would help before buying anything.

 

Just to bump this thread back up...

I just swapped my H-Tech's for the S-Tech's (hardly any additional drop ) and installed Ben's rear strut mounts while I was in there. I too also replaced the crappy factory red gasket with a cutout of my own with some gasket material and had cut it "slightly" larger than the size of the mounts, just to make sure the edges wouldn't contact the body. Absolutely no noise after the install when I drove it around. I'll wait and see if any noise appears..

 

its all on the install it seems, how well you took care of the set up

 

the mounts definatley squeak, i had to use a gasket to calm it down, its there still but not too often.

 

what gasket did you guys use? and where did you get it from? where was it placed to stop the noise. I havent installed my mounts yet, but will be good to know for when I install.

 

I picked up a sheet of gasket material (Mr. Gasket Co.) from a local auto parts place. You put the gasket on top of the mount; the orientation should be the same as the factory mount and red gasket. It's suppose to seperate the metal-metal contact between the mount and the rear strut tower. I had to go snooping around the house to find something that was slightly larger than the mount so I could trace over it. I ended up using an old tea leave lid.

 

thank you for that information. I will be sure to do this as well, to prevent the noise and having to tear apart the suspension for a 2nd time.

 

Mine squeak REALLY bad as well. Did you have to disassmble everything to install the gasket? Never did shocks/springs before so excuse my no-knowledge brain.

 

I have had this problem for the last month or so as well, also with the new mounts - running eibach and agx's.

I have tried cutting gasket out at least .5 inches around the whole mount, and doubled it up....still squeaking...

I have noticed that it doesn't squeak as much when the rear shocks are under load, ie in a corner, at the bottom of a hill, or with lots of weight in the rear. So I tried loading the rear as much as possible and tightening the center spindle bolt....went away for a day, then came back

I thought maybe the bolt wheren't sitting right in the rubber so I welded them to the mount...still squeaking....

I thought it was the thin little rubber at the bottom of the spring had slipped off and was squeaking against the strut....got it to cover the whole bottom of the spring....still squeaking....

The only thing I haven't tried yet is to take the whole assembly apart and try and remount it all. I only get squeak on one side...and I have noticed that on the silent side the strut sits dead center in the between each side mounting bold and in the middle of the whole in the body. Whereas the squeaky side it is not dead center...kinda leans to one side. So I figure that taking it all apart and making sure it sits dead center is the only thing left.....

If that don't work....I might have to go back to stock...it just drives me CRAZY having squeaks etc....

I'll be hopefully take it apart this weekend...so I'll post my results.

 

I have not had any noise issues with Ben's shock mounts. I did put in new gasket material where the OEM orange one goes. I cut it out a little bigger than the mounts.

 

So then basically when installing Ben's shoch mounts you'll need a new gasket or custom gasket a bit wider to prevent squeaking noises.

Maybe Ben can whip up a gasket and include those in the next batches that he sells? or instructions on what exactly to purchase to eliminate said noise.

 

I used the brown gasket material that comes rolled up, and just cut out what I needed.


I placed the shock mount on the gasket sheet and drew a line around it. Then I cut it leaving a little extra material around the line. Pretty simple .


After having my AGX's on the back with the OEM mounts for over a year I will not even consider going back to those after using Ben's shock mounts.

 

i have no problems noise wise

 

I found out what was causing my squeaking...the top of the mount had moved slightly off center, causing the spindle of the shock to rub up against the center hole on the mount. It actually did quite a number on it, taking slight notch out of the mount.

Got everything lined up proper and reinstall....no squeak for two days now!