Air Suspension squeaks from Hell

[Svashtar]

My mechanic put the car up on the lift yesterday to check the axles for free for the TSB problem, prior to installing the gears and all my other DR goodies. (Axles are fine.)

He DID NOT remember to switch off the air suspension and when it was back on the deck I asked him about it. He told me he forgot but that the air bags "had already refilled OK". The car stance looked OK, so I let it go.

However now the car has squeaks that sound like a tank track. At 20-30 MPH with the window down the noise is super noticeable. Like a flock of squeaky birds. It is ONLY from the rear of the car, and I can easily get the car to squeak like hell when parked by simply putting my left foot out the door onto the pavement and pushing slightly.

After the car sat all night it seemed OK, but with 10 minutes of driving it was squeaking like crazy again.

I'm 99.9% certain it is the air suspension. I used to have a front end chirp but after checking the forum here I adjusted my front hood supports and Bingo!, the problem disappeared instantly.

I have reset the trunk switch and can hear the little compressor charging the system on start up, but the car still squeaks. If I didn't know better I would think the system was damaged and not holding pressure, which accounts for it getting worse and worse the longer I drive and then "repairing" itself while the car is at rest.

Two questions:

1) What are the effects of jacking the car without switching off the suspension? The tag only says to do it to avoid "unexpected car movement" or something like that, and the manual is totally useless.

2) Any ideas on how to adjust the suspension to cure this problem, and have any of you experienced anything similar?

You guys are about my last hope here. (I took it to the dealer this morning and he was predictably useless and said I have to drive it for several more days before he would have time to check it.)

I'm hoping you can save my butt as you have so many time before! Thanks as always for any info.

Best regards,

Norm

[Svashtar]

Well, no input must mean no one else has ever had this problem, and sure enough they were right! I found the problem and it was a weird one. There is a metal tag on the differential cover that was sticking out from under one of the bolts, and was about 1/32nd of an inch away from the tailpipe.

When taking off with a cold car there was no problem, but as the car warmed up and the exhaust pipe got hot it expanded just enough to start scraping against the fine edge of the diff cover tag! For such a small thing it made a lot of noise, chirping every time the suspension moved at all.

Bend it out of the way and no more noise. Can't believe it was that simple.

Anyway, something to keep in mind if you ever start hearing bird noises from under your car! The air suspension had nothing to do with it.

Thanks & regards,

Norm

[hbarrett]

I have noticed this high pitched chirping noise lately, only after opening the drivers door and falling into the seat. Sounds like it's under the rear or middle of the car, and I only hear it when cold, not after warm up. I will check the diff. tag you mentioned this weekend.
Well, no input must mean no one else has ever had this problem, and sure enough they were right! I found the problem and it was a weird one. There is a metal tag on the differential cover that was sticking out from under one of the bolts, and was about 1/32nd of an inch away from the tailpipe.

When taking off with a cold car there was no problem, but as the car warmed up and the exhaust pipe got hot it expanded just enough to start scraping against the fine edge of the diff cover tag! For such a small thing it made a lot of noise, chirping every time the suspension moved at all.

Bend it out of the way and no more noise. Can't believe it was that simple.

Anyway, something to keep in mind if you ever start hearing bird noises from under your car! The air suspension had nothing to do with it.

Thanks & regards,

Norm

[hbarrett]

I am glad that you posted your message. I was getting the same noise, only when the car was cold - no noise warm. I had it at the dealers yesterday for trans flush and mentioned the noise, and they checked out the entire exhaust system, and found no problems or reasons for a noise. Finally crawled under there this am while the car was cold and before starting it, the diff. tag you mentioned was rubbing the exhaust pipe. Bent it back out of the way, and now the noise is gone. I guess that telling the service writer that another owner found the tag rubbing against the pipe meant nothing to them. I so much dislike taking my car in to a dealership for service, even though I like this dealer. Two months ago, the same dealer gouged the clearcoat on two of the wheels after telling me they had the correct equipment to align the wheels. I am still waiting for the two replacement wheels. I just wish I could do it all myself!
Thanks
Well, no input must mean no one else has ever had this problem, and sure enough they were right! I found the problem and it was a weird one. There is a metal tag on the differential cover that was sticking out from under one of the bolts, and was about 1/32nd of an inch away from the tailpipe.

When taking off with a cold car there was no problem, but as the car warmed up and the exhaust pipe got hot it expanded just enough to start scraping against the fine edge of the diff cover tag! For such a small thing it made a lot of noise, chirping every time the suspension moved at all.

Bend it out of the way and no more noise. Can't believe it was that simple.

Anyway, something to keep in mind if you ever start hearing bird noises from under your car! The air suspension had nothing to do with it.

Thanks & regards,

Norm

[DEFYANT]

I forgot about the rear air suspension when I did the rear brakes. I realized when I was done! I felt like I :shot: the air ride!

But when the car hit the ground, all was ok.

I never let it just hang anymore. Always support your rear end. :D

[compose]

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<o:p></o:p>
The rear of my car got elevated during a snow covered driveway mishap, which extended the rear suspension. Now I feel every wobble on the highway. Took it to the dealership and all they can say is take it somewhere to get alignment. Does their suggestion hold water?

[Bradley G]

My understanding is turning off the air ride switch in the trunk, allows the air to escape the air bags when lowering the car down.
If you forget it does not necessarily mean that the bags will blow, it is insurance to minimize the risk of over inflating the air bags.
I'm getting a intermittant thump over 40 mph from the right rear over a series of bumps.
It appears the thump is not on compression but on rebound, and only if the bumps are multiple.

[compose]

Thank you for responding. The dealer gave it a visual inspection and found nothing, so I’ll make an appointment to have it aligned. will keep you all posted.

[piglit50]

im going to check that out in a few!!! i have the same problem i thought it was suspension and was about to spend some cash but maybe its not!!

[whd507]

I had a customer with a weird noise in the rear, nobody could figure it out, I suggested cleaning the bags, then spray the bags with the ford silicone spray (that you are supposed to use on door seals and other rubber items) and his noise went away, it wasnt a chirp noise, more of a moan/rumble.