Hi folks, I'm at my wits end ... hope to get some of your thoughts

My X300 has developed a squeak on bumpy roads. It isn't consistent, sometimes I can drive over a pothole or a sizeable bump and it would be quiet. But other times, a slight dip (slightly sunken manhole cover for example) may produce that squeak (50% of the time!). Small sharp undulations seem to produce the sound more consistently than large bumps or dips in the road, which is strange! Speed does not matter, it squeaks at 10mph or 40mph just the same.

From what I can gather, it's coming from the front. Unclear if its left or right, driving both wheels over bumps can sometimes produce the sound.

All bushings are fairly new, replaced within the last 6 months! And I have tried giving it abit of silicone lubricant plus AT-205. No joy!

Only thing that is fairly old would be the springs (never replaced) or the bilstein shocks (replaced about 8 years ago)

Where should I look please?

-Kopi

 

https://www.denlorstools.com/home/dt...ssis_ears.html

CHASSIS EAR is a tool that can be found USED on eBay that might help?

 

Maybe try to record it. Place cellphone (or recording device ) as near the sound as you can. Footwell, or safely underhood somewhere, one side then the other. Hearing the sound will help us determine whether it is metallic or rubbery etc.

 

Were the new bushings rubber or urethane?

 

do shops over there have a 4 post shaker? it’ll find your squeak instantly

nobody in america has one we are like cavemen

 

I'll try to record it!

Just googled 4 post shaker, wow its awesome. Unfortunately, Singapore's much worse than "cavemen" when it comes to automotive mechanical skills and equipment. Amoeba comes to mind.

I've always gone for rubber bushings, and genuine Jaguar ones when available.

 

Ok here're the links to the video/audio. You have to turn it up but it should be very audible.

The squeak (more like a chirp) occurs at 5s, 16-17s and 23-24s! The birds are out too in case you're wondering if you heard em. Yes they are there! Haha.

Jaguar X300 Suspension or Chassis Squeak - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G88BZyDXM74

 

Folks just reviving this since its driving me nuts

I can describe the squeak/chirp a little better now.

1. If i go over a speed bump at speed >20kmph, I can hear two squeaks. One when the wheel first hits the speed bump and the other when the wheel drops from the bump onto the road.

2. Driving over bumps on the left or right wheel alone both generates the sound.

3. Shock bushings are all new. The shocks itself are about 7 years old.

4. Coils / Springs hasn't been changed since 1995. But spring isolators changed less than 5 years ago

5. Sway bar / anti-roll bar bushings replaced recently, in good condition

6. I've spray silicone lubricant on every piece of bushing, isolator, rubber I could find. No joy, the sound persists.

7. Pressing down on each fender (left or right) to bounce the car does not produce any sound.

What am I missing??

 

Hi, I have been chasing down squeaks and rattles on my 97 vdp
one that I resolved after updating the shocks and bushings is the exhaust mounts.
I ended up replacing the ones above the rear axle which were original and the mount holes were worn and more oval than round.
If you can get under the car, try lifting the exhaust by hand and allowing it to drop a few times. Hopefully you will find the squeak.
One other thing I did was to tighten up all of the bolts for the exhaust heat shields, which were a little loose.
hope this helps

 

Thank you Nobeel. The exhaust used to be a culprit but not this time! Thank you for sharing the tip though.

I've managed to narrow the sound even more, new clues!

With the car jacked up, if I take a mallet and hammer the top of the tyre (12 o'clock position), I can reproduce the squeak. Even if i rotate the wheels, the squeak persists (i.e. I do not think its the rim). When I switch the rear wheel to the front and hammer that position, I can reproduce the sound again (definitely not the rim or the tyre).

Any further thoughts?

 

Are the backs of your brake pads dry? A little copper grease might fix it. Try spraying water down them in the first instance to see if it makes a difference.

 

I have been chasing a squeak for ages now and have changed most of the front suspension on my 2007 XKR.
This is only guesswork from afar but, check that the anti roll bar bush bolts have not worked loose. Just before Xmas I had a loud creak develop which turned out to be the red rubber grease used when fitting ARB bushes a while back, had gone hard and very sticky. It was whilst removing the bushes I found that one if the bolts had worked quite loose, by about three turns.
Poor weather has meant that I have not road tested the car yet, partly influenced by enjoying a few days assuming I have cured the elusive squeak.
I have a chassis ear kit, but squeaks travel in strange ways giving false clues. The kit is not good at pinpointing squeaks but will help narrowing down the search to a cubic foot or so.
Squeak hunting is all consuming for me so imagine my horror with Boxing day dinner of Bubble and Squeak!!!

 

countyjag >> I tried as you suggested, no joy. But you did give me another idea for a diagnosis and I think its the brakes!

I drove over a few road bumps in the video below.

First Bump >> With brake pressure, no squeaks! (The noise is tyre squeal, normal)

Second Bump >> With brake pressure, no squeaks again! (Noise is tyre squeal only, that's normal)

Third Bump >> Just coasting across, no brake pressure, the squeaks are loud!

Fourth Bump >> With brake pressure, no squeaks!

So I'm fairly confident its brake related now. Time for a new set of calipers / discs?

 

Forgot the video link!

 

do you have the anti rattle clip on the caliper

 

Applying brakes can also put pressure on other suspension parts so it will not necessarily indicate a brake squeak. My squeak is the same and I have had the callipers apart a few times, greasing the sliders and checking the inner pad clips firmly into the piston. Greasing all sliding parts and checking large outer pad spring.

 

You make a fair point Neville, will take the brakes apart this weekend just to rule things out.

Xalty - yes, the anti rattle clips are there

Kopi

 

And check the ARB bush retaining bolts are tight! Try spraying the bushes with WD40 too.

 

How are you getting on Kopi?
Found it yet?