I've been trying to track down and eliminate an annoying squeak coming from (I think) the vicinity of the driver's side front wheel. Attached is a recording taken from the driver's seat going about 15 mph and you'll faintly hear the steady squeak as the tire goes over small undulations in the asphalt. Doesn't make noise going over large bumps or clunk like it would if the shock absorber bushings were loose. Sometimes I think it is cowl shutter, but as I focus on it I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the front wheel. If it weren't a convertible, you might not even know it was there, but since it is a rag top it's annoying.

I've jacked up the car and tried to reproduce by applying leverage to various bits, or bouncing the car up and down, etc. but it will only make the squeak while in motion. Any suggestions or clues would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Inaudible to my old ears. But I suspect you have a deteriorated shock absorber fixing and rubber parts were the shock fixes to the inner wing. Undo that and replace.

 

Like Greg, no can hear any squeak.

I would get a P/pack Silicon Spray, and CAREFULLY spray the shock bushes, sway links, sway D mounts, etc, ONE AT A TIME, and systematically chase it down, then fix it.

Most squeaks as you describe, I have had on the Series cars and the XJS's were the sway D Mounts. PITA to change with the radiator in situ, hence I always replace them when the radiator is out.

 

I hear it, two surfaces rubbing rather than tapping, perhaps one being non-metallic.

Could you take another drive, and this time place the microphone in the passenger footwell or on the dash.

 

That was the first place I looked, but that's not it.

 

You can't hear it all from the passenger footwell. With the top up and windows closed it can't be heard -- it's an 'outside' noise. I'll see if I can figure out a way to pick it up more clearly.

 

Hi Mac

Although I can't hear your Sound Recording, I had exactly the same problem on my Car 'Cherry Blossom' where the noise seemed to be coming from under the Passenger Footwell

Even the MOT Tester (that I no longer use for reasons that will become obvious during this Saga) couldn't figure out where the noise was coming from either and because of his 'Non diagnosis' it took me for ever to find out where the noise was coming from

That in case I forget to mention it was really driving me Crazy!

Then after looking everywhere I found out the Cause of the problem as the Shock Absorber Top Bushes had completely worn away to the point where they had disappeared!

Where it was very obvious that the MOT Tester hadn't Checked them, hence the reason that I no longer use that garage

So I made myself some Top Shock Absorber Bushes out of a strip of Thick Rubber using nothing more than a Hole Saw which was simple to do and easy to fit, only taking about One Hour Each Side

Then after a quick Test Drive, I found the Noise had Completely Disappeared!

Then a short while later, I cut myself some stiffer ones out of a Nylon Chopping Board and the difference in Handling was amazing! as that Car went round the Corners on Rails and here is how I did it, including the FULL SAGA and Lots of Photos: Absolutely Shocking! Making and Replacing Shock Absorber Bushes

 

Take your car and absolutely BLAST the underside with a car wash pressure washer and then zip around to see if that temporarily removes the issue, I have squeeks somewhat like that but youd never guess it somehow related to the passenger window being fully up or down a crack (car is coupe)...damn cars have alot of personality. If I was to guess as Grant said its a bushing related thing doing the squeek.

 

Eureka! I finally identified the squeaker.

I was following Grant's plan: However, I was starting to run out of things to spray and test. On what I thought would be the last test run of the day, as soon as I hit the stretch of pavement that was particularly squeak producing I heard the too familiar annoyance. A bit frustrated, I turned around and started to head back to my garage, when for some reason I had the inspiration to reach down to the hood release. Once released -- no squeak! Finally a clue of where to look, and I narrowed it down to the safety catch. The rivets that hold the small plate for the safety catch are a little loose, and appear to be the culprit. Some lithium grease on the plate and safety catch put an end to it.

Incredible that such a tiny thing could produce such a loud and annoying sound. With the car running so beautifully, the squeak was really spoiling the fun. I didn't like driving it around town because low speeds is were the squeak was obvious, and you could hear it bounce off the buildings. It made the car sound cheap and rickety. Now, I'll have to figure out where the occasional 'creak' noise I get from somewhere in the rear, though that one is hard to consistently reproduce.

 

Great find! I replaced the rivets with small bolts when mine came loose.

 

If the squeak returns, I was thinking about drilling out the rivets and replacing them, but bolts/nuts might be less prone to coming loose.

 

And a sight safer than relying on a couple of pop rivets if the catches fail at high speed!