[BobRay]

This is driving me nuts and I hope someone here can help.

My convertible has developed a very loud squeak that sounds whenever the car goes over a dip in the road that flexes the frame. The car only has about 20,000 miles on it, so it seems a little premature.

I've replaced the rear shocks to no effect and it doesn't really act like a shock or strut anyway because you can go over a fairly sharp bump without hearing it. It only occurs when the whole frame is flexed and the center of the car dips downward.

I can't make it happen by bouncing the corners or by stepping on the door frame so it's hard to find.

It sounds like it's coming from the center of the car (driver hears it on the right, passenger hears it on the left). I seems to be located near the shift lever but I don't know of anything in that area that could be squeaking.

I'm hoping someone here has had something similar and can suggest a cure.

TIA,

Bob

[kscoyote]

Originally Posted by BobRay

This is driving me nuts and I hope someone here can help.

My convertible has developed a very loud squeak that sounds whenever the car goes over a dip in the road that flexes the frame. The car only has about 20,000 miles on it, so it seems a little premature.

I've replaced the rear shocks to no effect and it doesn't really act like a shock or strut anyway because you can go over a fairly sharp bump without hearing it. It only occurs when the whole frame is flexed and the center of the car dips downward.

I can't make it happen by bouncing the corners or by stepping on the door frame so it's hard to find.

It sounds like it's coming from the center of the car (driver hears it on the right, passenger hears it on the left). I seems to be located near the shift lever but I don't know of anything in that area that could be squeaking.

I'm hoping someone here has had something similar and can suggest a cure.

TIA,

Bob

Get better subframe connectors and a K-member brace.

[BobRay]

Originally Posted by kscoyote

Get better subframe connectors and a K-member brace.

The subframe connectors seem to be solidly welded on and the squeak is new so I'm assuming that something has changed.

Bob

[kscoyote]

Originally Posted by BobRay

The subframe connectors seem to be solidly welded on and the squeak is new so I'm assuming that something has changed.

Bob

If they're the OEM 'vert connectors - they're about as stiff as a wet noodle.

[steve_stang2003]

Originally Posted by kscoyote

If they're the OEM 'vert connectors - they're about as stiff as a wet noodle.

+1
The mufflers are right about at that point.
Something work loose?

Try a little high temp grease in the rubber hangers.
VERY LITTLE, high temp grease as you don't want it dripping all over the place onto the hot exhaust system.

[BobRay]

Originally Posted by steve_stang2003

+1
The mufflers are right about at that point.
Something work loose?

Try a little high temp grease in the rubber hangers.
VERY LITTLE, high temp grease as you don't want it dripping all over the place onto the hot exhaust system.

Thanks. I'll give that a try.

Bob

[flash-1295]

If you have the roll bar(light bar). It may be your source. Tighten screws.

[BobRay]

Originally Posted by flash-1295

If you have the roll bar(light bar). It may be your source. Tighten screws.

I don't have the roll bar but, ironically, others have suggested the roll bar as a way to CURE the problem.

After looking here and at some other mustang forums, it appears that I was lucky to have the car this long WITHOUT a squeak.

I thought I'd list some of the results here for others with a similar problem:

Common Culprits:

Ball joints
Exhaust hangers
Tie rod ends
A wide variety of bushings
Transmission mounts
Emergency brake cable (where it goes through a hanger)

(shocks and struts can make noise too, but usually over sharp bumps, not when the car goes over a dip in the road)

Diagnosis involves spraying the parts, one at a time, with silicone lube or WD-40 to see which application quiets the squeak.

Several people have mentioned that new, welded-in sub-frame connectors solved the problem for them, which makes sense because it only sounds when the car flexes.

Bob

[kscoyote]

Originally Posted by BobRay

I don't have the roll bar but, ironically, others have suggested the roll bar as a way to CURE the problem.

After looking here and at some other mustang forums, it appears that I was lucky to have the car this long WITHOUT a squeak.

I thought I'd list some of the results here for others with a similar problem:

Common Culprits:

Ball joints
Exhaust hangers
Tie rod ends
A wide variety of bushings
Transmission mounts
Emergency brake cable (where it goes through a hanger)

(shocks and struts can make noise too, but usually over sharp bumps, not when the car goes over a dip in the road)

Diagnosis involves spraying the parts, one at a time, with silicone lube or WD-40 to see which application quiets the squeak.

Several people have mentioned that new, welded-in sub-frame connectors solved the problem for them, which makes sense because it only sounds when the car flexes.

Bob

The light bar is not a structural element. there's no way it can fix chassis flex. A roll cage certainly would, but that's a different matter entirely

[BobRay]

Originally Posted by kscoyote

The light bar is not a structural element. there's no way it can fix chassis flex. A roll cage certainly would, but that's a different matter entirely

Absolutey right. I should have written "roll cage." (If only I could afford one.)

Bob