Re: 540it squeaking

HELP! Every time I drive over a medium size bump in the road or when I am driving over an undulating road, our 1999 540i sportwagon makes a cricket-like squeaking sound. The sound appears to be coming fom the rear suspension. I have read all previous posts on squeaking door seals, but the problem does not seem to be caused by the doors. I have take the car to my dealer twice, and the service department was unsuccessful at fixing the problem. They tried tightening the gas tank brackets and lubibg the suspension; this has not worked. My wife and I have had the car for about sixteen months, and the squeak has been present since we first took delivery of the car. Needless to say, the presence of an imaginary criket in our otherwise problem-ree car has become extremely annoying. Does anyone have any suggesstions? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

MY BET - it is the bushing brackets on the rear stabiliser bar.

They are fastened at the bottom with a bolt - but the top is held by a metal tab that fits into a slot in the suspension carrier.

That tab can move in the slot and gives a metalic creaking noise - usually heard with suspension movents at slow speed with the windows open.

The only way I solved it on mine was to get some "sheet teflon" (about .5 mil thick) and fashion some strip shims to insulate those surfaces. ( I used a double thickness and wrapped it totally aroubnd the tab and extended it back inside the bracket where it was held in place by the bracket/bushing surface)

Never heard the fault again.

I proved the issue by jacking the car "gradully" on one side, while holding my hand on the bracket on that side (tricky and requires 2 people). When the noise occurred you could feel the creaking in the bracket.

Cheers
Jim cash

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