squeaking (fairly new) top wishbones

[bathdodger]

What can I do to relieve the squeaking and wheezing over speedbumps?

 

[tess]

go to the gym more often????

 

[conaero]

Just done mine too mate after the other Birth ones fell to bits in a year.

Apparently, according to Mike Roberts I over tightened the long bolt and that is why they chewed themselves up.

I have fitted new and they did squeeling and crack for about 2 weeks but have now settled down.
Undo and re torque the top bolts and give it a while to settle.

I have the settings in the garage, give me 5 mins.....

 

[lisknik]

Mine need doing on the V6 again!! Lasted about a year, she chews them for fun with the heavy engine

 

[Smaky]

Overtightened the long bolt.. complete tosh! That bolt should be tight to prevent the top hats spinning against the arm carrier, the reason tour arms will be squeaking/failing so soon is that you cheaped out and fitted crappy ones from ebay or another cheapo suppier, I can fit you a pair of OEM upper arms for not much more than most places quote for fitting one, so if you fancy a run to the Oxford area to make your car squeak free then just message me.

 

[conaero]

Smaky, the top bolt should be to the correct torque setting, I overtighened them, as I am heavy handed, and they failed.

I do take your point about cheap arms.

 

[Chris155]

Conaero, Where did you find the torque setting for them? IIRC it's not given in the workshop manual. Could be wrong though.

@bathdoger, do you have poly bushes in the upper arms fitted?

 

[conaero]

Conaero, Where did you find the torque setting for them? IIRC it's not given in the workshop manual. Could be wrong though.

@bathdoger, do you have poly bushes in the upper arms fitted?

From Mike Roberts:

41nm

 

[Chris155]

Handy to know. Cheers!

 

[beautifulbusso]

Mine need doing on the V6 again!! Lasted about a year, she chews them for fun with the heavy engine

Hehe, mine were changed a good 18 months ago and still in good shape, might be down to the polybushes though

 

[Smaky]

Smaky, the top bolt should be to the correct torque setting, I overtighened them, as I am heavy handed, and they failed.

I do take your point about cheap arms.

The top bolt, if the metal spacers are held tight and the nut does not spin out because you've stripped the thread (35 - 45 Nm btw), will not cause the bushes to wear and sqeak.

 

[bathdodger]

So.....................what can I do to relieve the squeaking and wheezing over speedbumps? Anything?

 

[Chris155]

Are the upper wishbones poly bushed?!

 

[conaero]

So.....................what can I do to relieve the squeaking and wheezing over speedbumps? Anything?

Change them for OEM Alfa don't bother with aftermarket, only Birth if you have to.

Many have tried and failed to lube them.

The rain does seem to ease it though.

If your handy with the spanners you can do them in a hour a side, change the drop links too, again OEM the aftermarket ones are terrible.

 

[Smaky]

Lubing them is a short term repair which if your going to that extent you may aswell replace them, TRW make the OEM ones and they come pre-greased ready to just fit, ALL aftermarket ones come dry and it is these which wear out within a year.

 

[Chris155]

Conaero, that's a little unfair... The reason I'm asking whether the OP has poly bushes is they (power flex / Autolusso) have changed the design to prevent this issue of the grease going awol and the creaking to start. My Dad has the revised design poly buses in his and, 6 months on, they're still quiet. But having said that, I've got no problems with the original design poly bushes that have been on my 147 for 3 months...

I do agree that cheap arms aren't worth the money though.

 

[bathdodger]

I think I am going to diy fit the grooved poly kit that autopsies supply.

Bloody tyres last longer!

Thanks for advice guys. Appreciated.

 

[conaero]

Lubing them is a short term repair which if your going to that extent you may aswell replace them, TRW make the OEM ones and they come pre-greased ready to just fit, ALL aftermarket ones come dry and it is these which wear out within a year.

Birth ones come pre greased too but they don't seam to last more than a year....or the dont when I fit them anyway.

 

[Smaky]

Just been looking at a car with Autoslag modified ones on, it's squeaking like a raped mouse. New arms fitted 5 months ago by them with the polys and both uppers are shot to **** already, play in bushes and balljoint banging about, 4500 miles since fitting.

 

[conaero]

So how do the OEM ones fair then in your experience?...or is there a better route?