Sway bar end link squeak

[Cadeez]

I recently had a sway bar end link go (very) bad, so last weekend I replaced both sides with Meyle HD links. Solved the problem, car drives super tight, however now there is a ridiculous creaking/squeaking noise when I turn. It sounds like new tires turning at a standstill on polished concrete, or something is being stretched way beyond it's limit. However I know I installed them correctly, there's really no way not to. It's really bad when the car is cold, however it eventually goes away after I drive for a bit, let the car sit, then drive again. I don't drive much, a few miles per day, is there some type of break in period for these things? Seems odd that there would be. When I originally purchased my H&R sway bar a year or so ago, I got new links at that time, some cheap URO or febi ones, and they made no such sound. These Meyle ones are quite a bit beefier than my old ones, I'm just wondering if something is askew under there. Anyone run into anything like this??

These are the links in question
https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-33...Bar/ES1843949/

[Oli77]

I don' t think there is a break in period. Mine never made noise like that.
If you remove them, does the noise stop?

[anandoc]

Replaced my front sway bar end links in 2015 and rear ones just a week ago with Lemforders. No squeaking whatsoever. I have never heard of them having any sort of break-in period. Haven't heard great things about Meyle HD parts to be honest.

[Cadeez]

I don' t think there is a break in period. Mine never made noise like that.
If you remove them, does the noise stop?

If I remove them I can't drive around to see, as I'll have no sway bar links connected... But the sound was not there before they were installed, and that was the only work done that day. I've never heard of a break in period either


Replaced my front sway bar end links in 2015 and rear ones just a week ago with Lemforders. No squeaking whatsoever. I have never heard of them having any sort of break-in period. Haven't heard great things about Meyle HD parts to be honest.

I've never had any issue with Meyle products, in fact they are my go to non OE brand for price/quality

[anandoc]

I've never had any issue with Meyle products, in fact they are my go to non OE brand for price/quality

I've read many unfavorable things about Meyle HD parts on E46F and other forums (not saying that they are correct) and have seen people going back to OEM. This is the reason why I always go with OEM/Lemforder parts. Here are a few samples:

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=714314

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=919733

http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=711334

[sillieidiot]

If I remove them I can't drive around to see, as I'll have no sway bar links connected... But the sound was not there before they were installed, and that was the only work done that day. I've never heard of a break in period either



I've never had any issue with Meyle products, in fact they are my go to non OE brand for price/quality

You can drive around without endlinks fine. You will just notice a ton more body roll than normal. They don't affect anything else.

[Oli77]

^ Agree, I had to do that and can attest that car is drivable, at least to test if sound is gone.

[Cadeez]

I've read many unfavorable things about Meyle HD parts on E46F and other forums (not saying that they are correct) and have seen people going back to OEM. This is the reason why I always go with OEM/Lemforder parts. Here are a few samples:

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=714314

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=919733

http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=711334

Thanks for the info, although I've never personally had any issues until now. Lemforder parts are usually in the same ballpark, I may switch to them going forward.


You can drive around without endlinks fine. You will just notice a ton more body roll than normal. They don't affect anything else.

Yes I could, I used to unhook my sways on my Jeep when I was 4 wheelin, talk a bout articulation! It would be a huge hassle to jack the car up, take off the wheels and links, put the wheels back on to drive it around, then do that all over again. I know the links are the issue, I'll probably just get different ones. My indy shop said they'd accept a return within 30 days if I wasn't happy.


^ Agree, I had to do that and can attest that car is drivable, at least to test if sound is gone.

It is, just a pain in my arss...

[sillieidiot]

Thanks for the info, although I've never personally had any issues until now. Lemforder parts are usually in the same ballpark, I may switch to them going forward.



Yes I could, I used to unhook my sways on my Jeep when I was 4 wheelin, talk a bout articulation! It would be a huge hassle to jack the car up, take off the wheels and links, put the wheels back on to drive it around, then do that all over again. I know the links are the issue, I'll probably just get different ones. My indy shop said they'd accept a return within 30 days if I wasn't happy.



It is, just a pain in my arss...

You don't have to take the wheels off. you just need to jack it high enough so that you can lay under there and take it off. That's what I do on my lift lol Too lazy to take the wheels off.

[Cadeez]

Update: Jacked her up and spun the wheel back and forth to see if the sound was evident when not under load, it wasn't. Removed the links and set it back on the ground, sound was still there. Took my trusty stethoscope (screwdriver) and placed it on the shock tower bolts, put my ear to it and had a buddy spin the wheel, sound and small vibration was loud an clear. None of this makes sense to me... Car was totally fine before I replaced the end links, now there's something is amiss with the shocks?? And I recently replaced the shock tower mounts, so I know they are not the issue. I'm literally at a loss, this makes absolutely no sense. Thoughts??

[Oli77]

There isn't the woowoowoowoowoo of a ball bearing going bad when you turn left of right on a long sweeping turn?
Bad upper strut mount?

[Cadeez]

Nope, nothing like that. And as I mentioned in my earlier post, I literally just replaced both shock tower/upper strut mounts. Literally everything in the suspension is new; upper strut mounts, end links, sways & bushings, shocks, control arms & bushings within the last 2 years, etc... That's why I'm so stumped, because there's nothing else to replace. The odd thing is the squeak eventually goes away after the car gets warm, or driven a few times. In the morning the sound is terrible, when I leave for lunch at work it's still there, but not quite as bad, then when I leave work to go home it's either gone or almost gone. Rinse and repeat

I guess the only thing to do is literally take EVERYTHING apart and do a very close inspection of it all, then put it back together and hope for the best.

[anandoc]

The upper strut mounts - are those OEM/Lemforder or some other brand (Meyle etc)?

A totally wild-ass guess but what if the noise comes from the strut bearings and as the strut mounts heat up due to the heat from the engine bay, the noise goes away?

[ClimRox]

The upper strut mounts - are those OEM/Lemforder or some other brand (Meyle etc)?

A totally wild-ass guess but what if the noise comes from the strut bearings and as the strut mounts heat up due to the heat from the engine bay, the noise goes away?

I think this may be a good wild ass guess. Mine were making a similar noise, only when cold, and once I replaced the strut mounts when I did my suspension refresh it was gone.

[Cadeez]

The upper strut mounts - are those OEM/Lemforder or some other brand (Meyle etc)?

A totally wild-ass guess but what if the noise comes from the strut bearings and as the strut mounts heat up due to the heat from the engine bay, the noise goes away?


I think this may be a good wild ass guess. Mine were making a similar noise, only when cold, and once I replaced the strut mounts when I did my suspension refresh it was gone.

Both of your wild ass guesses are in line with what my mechanic friend said when I had him over to look at it. And as mentioned earlier, if you put the blade of a screwdriver to one of the mount nuts, and the handle/grip end to your ear (ghetto stethoscope, old mechanics trick), the noise is amplified and you even feel a small vibration. So it's clearly coming from up there. He said take everything apart, grease it up real good, then put it back together. I don't think grease is the problem, the mounts are brand new! They are Meyle, which I've put on all of my cars without issue. When I replaced the mounts two months ago, the issue was not there, it was tight and perfect, this only started when I got new Meyle HD end links. So weird. Why would new end links cause the upper mounts to start making noise??

[anandoc]

I would guess that new sway bar end links further tightened your front suspension, which in turn put more stress on the strut mounts causing them to start making the noise.

Get rid of Meyle parts. Lemforder FTW!

[Cadeez]

Haha at this point I guess I have no choice! Oddly enough they are the same price on ECS site, both $35ea. Luckily when I put on the mounts last time, I also bought myself a hydraulic spring compressor...I knew it would come in handy. Results post will be in the coming weeks... Thanks for the input fellas!

[danewilson77]

Bad FSM

Sent by the Pixel XL

[Cadeez]

While up visiting my dad in Seattle this weekend, we greased the bearings in top of the shock tower mounts, and that pesky squeaking noise is gone! I've never greased them before, nor did I think they required it, but I must've gotten a bad set because they are all quiet now after some lube.

[anandoc]

While up visiting my dad in Seattle this weekend, we greased the bearings in top of the shock tower mounts, and that pesky squeaking noise is gone! I've never greased them before, nor did I think they required it, but I must've gotten a bad set because they are all quiet now after some lube.

Great news! I hate any kind of squeaks and rattles and it drives me crazy. Enjoy driving in peace now :)

[Cadeez]

You have no idea how happy I am with the easy fix, and a quiet, normal driving car. That squeak was so annoying, and embarrassing...

[BMWCurves]

Glad to hear the fix was easy!

[ELCID86]

Love it when it's easy. Hope it's permanently fixed!