GT strange creaking sound from rear - ideas?

[BigR]

A while ago I noticed a bit of a strange creaking sound from the right rear of my Gran Turismo ('08 if the age has a bearing). It only occurs (or can only be heard) when going at low speeds and when that corner is 'stressed' e.g. going up into my driveway the curb has a slightly higher drop than normal, or when going over a very uneven road surface (potholes) at low speed, or sleeping policemen.

I'm not greatly mechanically minded at all, but thought it could be the shocks / springs / bushes...going on that corner. Having had Maranello look at it, they've found nothing and claim not to have been able to replicate the noise (perhaps they left the radio on during the test drive...) even though it is by and large always there.

So any thoughts / advice / experiences of the same?

 

[bigbob]

I have the same but on the LHS rear. The garage could not find anything last time but it's still doing it. My car is about to go in for it's end of warranty check so I will mention it again.

 

[conaero]

Nice to see the Alfa DNA carries on the bloodline!

Its more than likely wishbone bushes, if not shock/spring top rubber donut.

 

[bigbob]

Useful - thanks Matt.

 

[BigR]

Useful feedback thanks - kind of area that makes sense.

Bigbob - would you mind updating once you've had your end of warranty check? I'm just marginally nervous as planning a bit of a roadtrip around France in August so would like to get it resolved - or at least know in advance. I should add, not as nervous as the Mrs who just hasn't ever quite taken to the car...

 

[bigbob]

Will do. Please prompt me if you have heard nothing by the end of the month.

 

[conaero]

Its the achilles heal of the 156/147/GT probably made from the same supplier TRW.

All produced in the 2000's so it figures.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Useful feedback thanks - kind of area that makes sense.

Bigbob - would you mind updating once you've had your end of warranty check? I'm just marginally nervous as planning a bit of a roadtrip around France in August so would like to get it resolved - or at least know in advance. I should add, not as nervous as the Mrs who just hasn't ever quite taken to the car...

Take a battery charger. (Honestly!)

Mine was doing something similar and Lancaster said it's the bushes (well, one of them). They could grease it, they said, but it'll only sort it out for a short time. Just one of those things, they reckoned. I look forward to learning if BB's diagnosis is any different.

 

[BigR]

Yeah, I was going to take my C-tek with me (smuggled past the Mrs, as it won't do much for her confidence!).

So - a spaz question I'm afraid - can they not replace the bushes, or are they saying "Maserati bushes just do that"?

 

[Felonious Crud]

Not sure. I suppose they could replace them but they might just squeak again.

 

[Colossus]

Mine did this as well as a "pinging" sound, it is bushes and spring mount related. Had the bushes replaced under warranty and been fine. I would not be worried about the trip to France, this is one of those minor niggles that won't impact on the way the car drives. As for the Mrs, if it helps any, I regularly take mine and all the family to the South of France for a couple of weeks with no issues, never missed a beat and was a joy to have down there. The car was made precisely for that kind of trip, just enjoy it.

 

[conaero]

The 'pinging' sound is a known fault and is worn drive shaft splines. Its most noticeable when you reverse off a drive then pull away forward with vigour.

The splines slip in the hub with the take up of drive in the opposite direction and you get the 'ping' sound as it does it.

Maserati says its failed loctite, but instead of reapplying they change both driveshafts under warranty, so I am sceptical to say the least here.

 

[mowlas]

Back to the creaking/squeaking sound - I had something similar to the rear of my QP and it turned out to be worn connection on the anti-roll bar. Had it replaced and was fine afterwards. Not saying this is necessarily the cause of the OP problem though...

 

[Bobby Dandruff]

The front right suspension (only) on my 2009 GT makes a strange creaking sound when driving over speed bumps at very low speed (like as slow as possible to avoid grounding ANYTHING!) so I'd be interested in any responses.

 

[BigR]

Hmm...I think I may take a collection of these suggestions to Maranello given that I paid them to investigate this problem, they couldn't find anything, and they couldn't even recreate the noise even though its there EVERY time I drive at slow speeds over any kind of bump or pothole.

Thank you all for your input - and especially to Colossus for your vote of confidence to drive south this summer!

 

[MackemExile]

Mine does the same creaking. All my Alfa's had this issue at one point or another, and it was always ARB or bushes related. I learned to live with it. Although learning to live with it on an Alfa worth 10p felt perfectly ok, learning to live with it on a 'supercar' doesn't feel quite right somehow!

 

[sharn]

Did anyone get to the bottom of what was causing this? My 4200 CC has the exact same problem. Ever since I had a bit of work done to it at mechanics

 

[hodroyd]

Get thr Rose Joints and Bushes looked at, can be greased, or replaced..!!

 

[bigbob]

Mine had some arb/damper metal on metal joints at the rear greased and it has gone away.

 

[alfatwo]

Its the achilles heal of the 156/147/GT probably made from the same supplier TRW.

All produced in the 2000's so it figures.

It's the bushes pulling out of the arms that kackered the Alfa's...TRW Italia also supplied 3200,4200 and GS steering racks!

Dave