Auto rear shock/strut....(now with short video)

[Omega Man]

Can these make a lot of noise after they fail? The wife's cager had needed rear shocks/struts for a while and I think one finally failed. When I push down hard on the rear fender I get a loud scraping sound. Can they sound like this when they fail or is a larger component gone. I see a type of independent suspension under there. It's a 2004 Infinity I35.

 

[zman]

I suppose if the shaft is rubbing on the shock body, could also be the bushing on the independant suspension linkage is shot and would also have a sort of scrape or squeaking.
Scraping you really need to lift the rear enough to crawl under and have a look, inspect the shock`s piston shaft for oil or wear then have another compress while you look for the source, or a trustworthy mechanic can put it on a lift and tell you.
Shocks source out at 67 each so it isn't terrible, not great but in the shock world fairly cheap.

 

[Omega Man]

A bushing sounds very plausible. In the winter months we were getting a kind of rubbing/squeaking sound, now it's a loud scraping sound.

 

[slabghost]

I use WD40 on all the moving points one point at a time and test if it looks good. Spray bushing and bounce the car. Often it is obvious what is making the noise but if not. Spray, bounce, until the sound changes. When it does you know it was the last thing you sprayed.

 

[zman]

Omega Man » Sat Dec 06, 2014 10:37 am[/url]":3chv10xr]
A bushing sounds very plausible. In the winter months we were getting a kind of rubbing/squeaking sound, now it's a loud scraping sound.

Remember the shocks stroke travels further then the bushings do so a longer scraping sound may very well be a shock, a short squeak or scrape may be a bushing but I wouldn't leave out a shock scraping only under full compression, but usually they scrape the whole length of the stroke..

 

[mcgovern61]

Yes they do fail and yes do sound like that when they fail. Same thing happened on our 2002 Hyundai Elantra.

 

[Omega Man]

It is a whole length scrape I believe.

Btw, thanks for the help guys!

 

[dan filipi]

I take the lazy approach on stuff like this.
When it's due for oil change , tire rotation and alignment, I have the guys find the noise for me.

 

[Omega Man]

dan filipi » Sat Dec 06, 2014 10:56 am[/url]":373maq2q]
I take the lazy approach on stuff like this.
When it's due for oil change , tire rotation and alignment, I have the guys find the noise for me.

This noise is a bit too extreme, I'm going to post a video of me bouncing the rear with the phone under there tonight.

 

[zman]

Once you know if it is or is not the rear shocks , they do look pretty easy to do yourself..HF has an inexpensive spring compressor, maybe a 3 hour job with beer breaks :salute:
Here`s a video, just dont do as he does and handle the interior with your greasy hands otherwise a good tutorial.
[video]https://youtu.be/iU3bN67e6XE[/video]

 

[dan filipi]

Just did rear shocks and springs on the suburban.
A much different animal than yours but replacing all of it made the ride nice and stable with no squirrely handling at higher speeds like it was when new.
All had over 100k miles.

 

[Omega Man]

Lol, you finally changed them! These have 112k on them.

 

[dan filipi]

Lol yeah.
I was told the rear coils were a nightmare to get out so I rented a spring compressor (which I forgot to return so I own now) and was all ready for a royal fight. Springs came right out after unbolting the shocks. Hardest part was getting the ass end up high enough.

 

[Omega Man]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6IpGAClXHc[/video]

It sounds even worse when slowly rolling over a speedbump.

~O~

 

[dan filipi]

Sounds like a rubber bushing twisting in it's mount.
More irritating than anything usually.

 

[joedrum]

sounds like a car not to fool around in :shock: :smilie_happy:

 

[dan filipi]

:smilie_happy:

 

[zman]

Doesn't sound like the shock itself but I think your shock is weak and your bushings may need some lube, slabghost said to lube things one at a time, Thats what I would do just to narrow it down. Thinking the weak shock wore out a bushing or two, might get away with lube but bushings are pretty cheap.
Thinking about it it almost sounds spring like in pitch, check your sway bar bushings too, If you have a rear sway bar.

 

[Steve83]

Yup, rubber bushing. There sounds like there might be a metallic scrape - right at the start. At 112K, it's time to replace 'em!

Good one, Joe!! :smilie_happy:

 

[Omega Man]

Yay! All struts were wasted, $1,174.00 to replace all four just before Christmas :head bang: . All were original and 102,000 miles old. The service manager showed me how the front right wouldn't even compress when they put the car back on the ground. So new Monroe Sensa-Trac struts all around, I hope they are good. Janet is happy and that is really all that matters. :yes:

~O~