Noisiest suspension known to man

[1883atlantics]

Help! I am having a few issues with my 90 LE sedan V6, AT. The suspension makes noises closer to a rustic covered wagon rather than an automobile. Apply the brakes, groan. Release brakes, groan. Speed bumps are horrific. Car has 140,000 miles on it. I've replaced the sway bar brackets/bushings. What I need to know is what else to replace. The struts are Monroe Sens-a-Matic and are only 3 years old or so (~50,000 on them). The springs have never been touched. What are some suspension parts I can replace without breaking the bank that could help this?
Thanks for any help,
Jeff

[TBayToyotaBoy]

Jeff, can you be a little more specific as to where the noises are coming from? Front, rear, left, right, all of the above?

Sometimes a bad wheel bearing will cause noise, so will the rear stabilizer links. A broken coil spring could cause some grinding/groaning sounds as well. Check the inner bushings on the front lower control arms. Oil leaks deteriorate the bushings (happened to me), giving the control arm enough play to cause groaning.

--Tim

[nuron]

Originally Posted by TBayToyotaBoy

Jeff, can you be a little more specific as to where the noises are coming from? Front, rear, left, right, all of the above?

Sometimes a bad wheel bearing will cause noise, so will the rear stabilizer links. A broken coil spring could cause some grinding/groaning sounds as well. Check the inner bushings on the front lower control arms. Oil leaks deteriorate the bushings (happened to me), giving the control arm enough play to cause groaning.

--Tim

On mines, it was definitely the lower control arm bushings. I replaced the swaybar bushings though, thinking they were the culprit. When I noticed that there wasn't noise in the rain, I sprayed just the LCA bushings with water when it was dry out and the noise was gone. I ordered a set of arms with bushings for about $100 on eBay.

[1883atlantics]

Originally Posted by TBayToyotaBoy

Jeff, can you be a little more specific as to where the noises are coming from? Front, rear, left, right, all of the above?

Sometimes a bad wheel bearing will cause noise, so will the rear stabilizer links. A broken coil spring could cause some grinding/groaning sounds as well. Check the inner bushings on the front lower control arms. Oil leaks deteriorate the bushings (happened to me), giving the control arm enough play to cause groaning.

--Tim

ALL of the above, for sure. You wrote something very interesting to me: the oil issue. My valve covers leak pretty bad and have leaked since I got this car (five years ago). I have always just driven it like that and it was OK but I do remember there being oil in the LCA area when I did my brakes about a year ago (coating most everything). Should I just replace the LCAs and how hard is that to do? I have access to a good-sized air compressor, and some tools (impact wrench, etc).
Thanks!
Jeff

[chubcobear]

1883atlantics,
Before you change out inner and outer bushings of your LCAs, remember that the rear suspension has double the amount of bushings (which squeak and groan) especially in winter. If you are sure the noise is coming from the front suspension, then OK..... Go for it! But, Generation 2 rear suspension bushings (there are 12, not counting the stabilizer bar link) are noisy also. They sometimes are the real cause of road bump noises. My 1990 is surely the worst for noise in the state of California, and most of it comes from the rear suspension bushings (especially when its cold outside). T.C. Bear

[1883atlantics]

Originally Posted by chubcobear

1883atlantics,
Before you change out inner and outer bushings of your LCAs, remember that the rear suspension has double the amount of bushings (which squeak and groan) especially in winter. If you are sure the noise is coming from the front suspension, then OK..... Go for it! But, Generation 2 rear suspension bushings (there are 12, not counting the stabilizer bar link) are noisy also. They sometimes are the real cause of road bump noises. My 1990 is surely the worst for noise in the state of California, and most of it comes from the rear suspension bushings (especially when its cold outside). T.C. Bear

Wow, I didn't realize there were so many bushings in the rear. Thanks for the info! My front and rear are both very noisy. I'll need to tackle the rear noise-points as well so where should I start? When it is cold here (Arizona) the car sounds just horrible. Creaks and groans galore with any bump in the road. It almost sounds like the frame is twisting it's so bad.
Thanks
Jeff

[chubcobear]

If you can get vegetable oil between the rubber bushing and metal, that works for awhile, if bushings are not motor oil ruined or worn.