This reply maybe do not help you but I get a similar creaking kind of noise from the rear when driving over speed bumps, but only when it is cold, that is below freezing temperatures. This only occurs at speed bumbs when cold, never on bad roads or in warmer weather. Seems that both rear wheels suspension must work in same way to create this noise. My car is not lifted. Anyone else that has got this problem? Sofar I have not complained to the dealer as I am fraid they could cause other problems when tying to solve this. Not a big issue for me as it is not every day I'm passing speed bumps in cold weather. But if it is a well known problem with a fix then I would tell them.

 

I have been having this creaking noise as well but it sounds like it is coming from the front when I go over speed bumps. It seems worse in the cold but I do hear it in the summer. I twice asked the dealer and they said they could not hear anything when they took it for a ride. Next time I take it in I will drive it for them since they need to concentrate on there hearing because it is not my imagination.

 

I mailed Rocky Road about this, they just replied that a creaking noise usually means something is not properly tightened, while a squeak would indicate something would need lubrication. Hard to say if what I'm hearing is a creak or a squeak. Pretty much something in between...

So, I took the Zook back to the shop today to have them investigate the noise.The mechanic checked that all bolts were tight and concluded there was nothing he could do about the issue. Didn't even bother to take it for a ride to hear for himself. Doh.

Tomorrow I'll have the lift job inspected by the roadworthiness testing agency (local regulations force me to have the GV reclassified from 'passenger car' to 'terrain vehicle' in order to allow for a lift greater than 50 mm), I'm hoping the inspecting engineer can comment on the creaking noise. Usually they're the least helpful and friendly people you can possibly discuss your car with, but this specific guy is into offroading and has inspected a Rocky Road-lifted GV before, so there's hope

 

Any news, mch42?

I may be experiencing a similar issue: 2007 GV with Rocky Road 2-1/8".

My noise is a dull "thunk", or "clunk", coming from the left-rear only, and only during suspension-extension (so far as I can tell). It sounds somewhat like a trailer-hitch "plug-in", when that plug-in rattles around a bit inside the 2" receiver - kind of a muted, but heavy "clunk".

My front is perfectly quiet. I had a full 5-wheel (includes steering-wheel) after the lift.

I don't seem to hear it if I go over a bump that is the same for both rear wheels (like a speed-bump). But, if I hit a pothole, or some similar down-bump, the left-rear will extend and "thunk".

Believe me, everything is tight as can be - even following (and occasionally exceeding) the Suzuki service-manual specs. I haven't made the time to lay underneath, and examine for bright / worn / bumped spots, yet.

But, it will certainly help if you've identified anything yet, mch42!

TIA!

 

Oh - should've mentioned a few more things:

-when I got my 2007 GV, the only stock drive of it's life was from the dealer, to my home. I cannot compare with pre-lift, because there was so little of it

-every bushing was lubed with silicone grease (water-resistant, and rubber/poly friendly) before reassembly. So, I highly, highly doubt that things like shock-bushings will be squeaking and contributing

-I did notice, pre-lift, that the rear axle-shafts were just about horizontal, and the front axle-shafts were slightly upward-sloping (as you go out from the diff). After the lift, the front axle-shafts appear beautiful and horizontal (ie better angles than factory!), but the rear shafts are angled downward. It crosses my mind that to wonder if there is some over-extension of the rear CV joint???

 

Gordonp : I also had a similar sounding noise on mine when i first installed. I came to realize that one of the rubber boots in the back was not aligned correctly. Each of the rubber boots that sit below the spacer has a groove in it for the end of the spring to fit into. Mine was not aligned in that groove. I was getting a "clunking" noise on bumps and the such.

 

Unfortunately no news on my end, I still got the creaking. The inspector figured that the sound might be coming from some the bolted joint between the lower control arm and the chassis. Haven't had time to investigate it closer, though. Will keep you posted on any progress.

 

Hi,

did you check the left rear shock? I have the same problem previously, I took out the shock and compress it as well as rebound damping was fast and noisy. A good shock is hard and once compressed need strength to pull out upper eyelet.

the effect of damage shock the car rear also springy and bouncy, when hard corner left, your car feel like its jumps.

 

Metatrox!

Although I was a bit skeptical, I did follow through on your suggestion. And, I will happily admit that you were right on!

When I positioned the rubber thingy on the Rocky Road spacer, I did not notice the small divot/groove for the end of the coil-spring. After disassembly, I did notice it, and I saw that I had positioned the end of the coil-spring so that it "overshot" this small "pocket" but about 1/2". I was very skeptical that this modest re-positioning would eliminate my "thunk" noise.

I was wrong (I'm happy to say!). As slight as this tweak was, it made a *world* of difference! No more left-rear "thunk" at all.

Thanks again,
-Gord

 

Twas my pleasure. I remmeber when i put mine on for the review, i was hearing that same noise. I thought to myself I didnt remember aligning that pocket on the right side when I put it together. So I took it back off and i found myself correct. lol Thats why in my HOW-TO I explicitly state "Make sure you align the rubber boots". lol

Anyways glad to see it worked for you.

 

Still no solution to my noisy rear suspension (which, I'm 99% sure, was quiet before I had the lift kit installed.) I had a different mechanic have a look at it, he greased the rubber joints (without actually taking anything apart, though), but said it'd be a daunting task to actually locate the joint that's causing the noise. His suggestion was to turn up the radio and stop worrying about small sqeaks...

It was driving me nuts for the first couple of weeks, but I have to say I'm now so used to it that it's not bugging me anymore. I hardly even notice it. It annoys me only when I have friends in the car

 

Great I will have to remember this when I do the lift so that I do nto make the same mistake

 

Creaking noise.

I had trailer hitch factory installed and had a really bad creak when towing loads with a small amount of tongue weight. I returned to the dealer who claimed to remove a small rock and reinstalled. Creaking noise remained, so i returned to the dealer 120 miles away and asked to have it fixed again. They used silicon and rebolted it on. I still have creaking but not as bad. Maybe there is an inherent problem that certain types of flex on the frame causes this creaking noise.

 

Hello All. I'm already with another Suzuki group, ZukiWorld, and found this post GOOGLING for bushings for my 2001 Suzuki XL-7 Limited. What a surprise to find MCH42 link problem on GOOGLE search. My experience, well let me tell you, and also my service manager thinks it's all on RockyRoad's product. Last summer had bought 2.5" lift from RockyRoad. Well, the sway bar link(front right), kept breaking. They replaced it, no charge of course, then it happened again. Thank God for the 90 day warrenty on parts and repairs. They finally "replaced and shim the front right link." Well, I now, and ever since last summer, get loud creaking, or sweaking noise fron the front. Service manager took sway bar bushings off, oiled them and replaced. One week later, same noise. Again, they checked. then another week later same thing. I notice that since it's winter now, the noise isn't there much, but this week Jan 7 2008, DC's weather gotten quite warm, it think in the 60's-70. Now the sweaking is back. Service mgr did tell me to look for a nylon bushings, maybe they will work better than rubber. I think Suzuki's OEM sway bar bushings are rubber. Their are polyeurothene ones and JC Whitney.com says they work and last longer than OEm rubber ones. So here I am looking for bushings for my XL-7. BTW, RockyRoad told me also to have them check for install correctly, and make sure rear stablizing bar is correctly place, etc. Now After reading you guys comments, maybe it it RockyRoads product even though the owner of RR claims he had no complaints. But Mch42, if their are bushings in the rear, maybe do like me and see if non rubber ones will work. I will let you guys know how it turns out. Also, bought in 2005 235/50/18 Hanook chrome wheel and tire packaged. But will startl looking for bigger tires since I have a little more height, hence my profile pic. But I also want to lift my truck at least 2" more. Anyone know of a company selling body lift kits for XL-7s(2001)?

 

It's most likely your traction/stability control trying to..... control traction.
The sound is the sound of individual wheel brakes being activated and is similar though not quite the same as ABS. Wheel goes up, it spins faster and the computer suspects it is slipping. Wheel goes nown, it spins faster...
If you have the TC override, try to switch it off by holding the buton a few seconds. You'll have to do this test at slow speed becasue it automatically switches back on at a preset speed. Check you owners manual.

 

I have had my RR lift kit installed for over a month now. I didn't have any squeaking up until recently. It seem that I have it at the rear left wheel, and I only hear it when turning right and up a bit (like entering a gas station or a driveway). I guess there is some extra pressure created on the rear left wheel during the turn.

I'm quite confident about quality of the lift installation, I had it installed by the dealer. I will check with them at the next service appointment.

 

OK, I suspect the squeaking began after I had fun last week and hung the wheel down. See the picture.

After I came back from the alignment shop yesterday, the squeaking disappered!?

I hope it's not gonna come back !