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Re: Squeaks

To: CAMHI ALAN <camhi@symbol.com>
Subject: Re: Squeaks
From: Ken Streeter <streeter@sanders.com>
Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 09:28:05 -0400
Cc: triumphs@Autox.Team.Net
References: <4CBD8B3301D641D9@davinci.symbol.com>
CAMHI ALAN wrote:

> Charles Corliss wrote:
 
> >Hi fellow triumph owners;I have a 1969 TR-6.  The car has a squeak
> >that sounds like its in the rear of the car.  It seems to go away
> >under load but can be heard when the car is going at a study speed.
> >Also sometimes a clunk is heard from the rear end when going around
> >a sharp turn. New U joints have been installed.  Does anyone have
> >any ideas, on this problem?

My first question would be whether the squeak happens only when you
go over a bump.  If it happens all the time, and varies with speed,
it is most likely a u-joint or the rear hub bearings.  A good
diagnosis aid for this is to find a large brick or concrete wall
you can drive alongside, and listen carefully while doing so.  The
wall will reflect back lots of squeaks, etc., and allow you to help
locate them.  If the squeak happens in this way, it may help to have
somebody else drive the car in a parking lot, while you stand in the
center, to listen to the noises.  My vote would be for a rear hub
bearing, if you have just replaced and adequately greased all the
u-joints.

If the squeak only happens over bumps, there are dozens of
possibilities.
For squeaks, my first guess would be the trunk lid rubbing against
the body at some point, with the resultant vibration causing a squeak.
I get this with my bonnet prop rod on my '74 TR6, and it is very
annoying, as well as amazingly loud.  

Suspension components to check would include the trailing arm bushings,
shock absorber mounts, shock absorber link to the trailing arm, and
differential mounts.

For non-suspension components, check to see that all your body mounts
are
in place and secure, that the exhaust is securely fastened, and not
bumping against the frame, that the floor covering the spare tire in 
the trunk is securely fastened, that the spare tire is securely held,
that
the bumper mounts are secure, and anything else you can think of.  If
you
can reproduce the sound by "bouncing" the car in the garage, you'll be
way ahead of the game.  The squeak could be caused by body flex causing
your rear fenders to squeak -- if so, there's not much you can do about
this.
 
> I haven't seen any responses and am very interested in hearing from other
> regarding this problem because I am experiencing it with my '65 TR4.  The
> rear end squeaks over bumps but more importantly, there is a noise in the
> rear when a sharp turn is taken.  The noise sounds and feels as if
> something were sliding from one side to the other in my trunk.

This is going to sound really obvious, but have you made sure that there
is
nothing loose in the trunk?  I have puzzled about unusual noises from
the
rear of my car around corners, only to find that the spare tire, lug
wrench,
or spare tire cover board in my TR6 were not securely fastened.  If the
noise
sounds like something is sliding about in your trunk, that may very well
be
what it is!  I would also suggest you remove the panel in front of the
gas
tank to see that what you hear sliding isn't the gas tank...
 
The best way to be sure the sound isn't caused by anything in the trunk
is take everything out of the trunk.  Yes, I mean *everything*,
including
the spare tire.  Then drive the car and see if the noise still occurs.

--ken
'70 & '74 TR6 Daily Drivers

-- 
Kenneth B. Streeter         | EMAIL: streeter@sanders.com
Sanders, PTP2-A001          | 
PO Box 868                  | Voice: (603) 885-9604
Nashua, NH 03061            | Fax:   (603) 885-0631

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