When I first put my 07 XKR into reverse gear, the small "jolt" of the weight shifting causes a creak somewhere near the right rear wheel. This also happens when I punch the throttle sometimes.

I have done a lot of maintenance work on my cars since learning to DIY, but I've done nothing with suspension. The wheel does not move, when being jacked up and checked for movement. Besides those destroyed cheap ball joint covers, everything looks and feels solid.

Any pointers on what to possibly look for?

 

The rear suspension loads energy to the suspension in the opposite direction, so it'd be control arm bushes which cause the creak. Spray them down with WD40 one at a time and check, when you lose the creak, that last bush was the problem.

 

Let the oil penetrate for at least a day or two before going to the next and driving the car will help penetrating the oil!:-)

 

or is it the strut isolator?? It was on my car.

 

I would follow CeeJays advise. If you can replicate the noise by bouncing the car up and down, then spraying each joint 1 by 1 will give you the culprit.

For me it was the lower control arm bushings (which had almost no rubber boots left) and the sway bar bushings.

 

Thanks. The noise can not be replicated by bouncing the car up and down. It is only present on horizontal movement, ie, putting the car in reverse, or a hard acceleration.

 

On my 2007, it was a "dry" bolt on the upper wishbone. Like you, I couldn't replicate the issue with the vehicle jacked up.

The annoying creak occurred as the bolt rotated (badly) within the bush sleeve. Unfortunately I only discovered this after buying a new wishbone. Withdrawing the bolt, coating with Copaslip and refitting stopped the creak. You could have a similar situation on any one of the four wishbone bolts.

Graham

 

Could you replicate that sound by pushing down on the body, even when on the ground, off the jack?

I can't replicate the noise by bouncing above the wheel, shaking the wheel when jacked, or hitting it with a road hammer. The only way to make the sound is to start the car, and throw it in reverse. The creak happens on the load shift when the transmission engages in gear.

 

NO - it drove me nuts for months.

Graham