I jacked the car up a week ago using the front cross member under the radiator, the way I always do it as per the repair manual.


Anyway once it was dropped back down I ended up with a very bad creak, it would creak on the smallest of bumps, any steering input (stationary or moving), on acceleration and braking. It was a loud embarrassing creak.


So today I stripped the front left suspension, tweaked everything and of course nothing creaked and everything moved smoothly.





In desperation I greased the top and bottom coils of the spring where they rub together under compression and also greased the strut top mount where it is bolted to the body and put it all back together.


Now the creak as totally disappeared and my smooth ride has returned.

 

Rd, Good to know that is a possibility, so when installing new parts, it would seem a little bit of anti seize on the top mount and wheel bearing grease on the seat of the inter fender (wing). On the spring seats (plastic) a light coating of grease also, top and bottom and between the tight coils.
It makes sense to me, remember how our bikes would roll and ride right after we use the oil out of a can that was left when it all didn't come out for your dad.
I wouldn't use very much, as dirt tends to stick to grease and makes it like sandpaper on rubbing surfaces. Anti seize may be a better idea in all places???


Wayne

 

That's given me an idea for the possible cause of a similar annoying creak on the rear suspension of my XK (spring/damper design is similar to the XK8/XKR front).

Graham

 

A bit more on this one, a couple of weeks later the creak came back worse than ever. I stopped at my local garage for a second opinion yesterday and they agreed it was coming from the lower ball joint.


It was a 4 hour job today to fit the new Lemforder ball joint and I hope that is the creak gone for good now.

 

also if you replace the top mounts when reassembling you must hold the shaft in place on top of the shock when tightening the nut...will seem tight but the shaft will rotate if not held and will have a rattle when put back in place .