Towbar sound (with no towbar)

[Bipolar]

G'day fellow Ford junkies

I had my (Pedders) superlows fitted about 2 months ago and only just 2 days ago started hearing a sound coming from the rear like I'm towing a trailer. I don't even have a towbar. I hear it over even the smallest undulations on any surface. When I got a spare 10 seconds I rocked the right rear and heard a crinkle kind of sound coming from the tower.

When the SLs got fitted, they rushed it cause they were running out of time. I don't think they let it settle before they tightened everything up. Could this be what it is or am I way off?

[Interceptor'85]

The bushes could be shot if they rushed it and didnt settle the suspension properly. Just hearing "mechanic" and "rushed" in the same sentence makes me cringe. Some mechanics are dodgy idiots these days. Would rather make a few extra bucks and do a half-a**ed job.

[LTDHO]

What does towing a trailer sound like?

I'd go back, regardless on how last a job is, it should never be rushed, especially suspecion.

[volcom20]

Under the boot there's a little plate that is bolted to the guard.

Look at the boot, and on the right hand side, underneath, near the exaust, there should be a stupid plate stuck there by ford with a couple of screws in it.

Check to see they haven't been torn out (Mine were, and my *** end has never touched anything solid...) and they rattle sometimes.

Just take a look

[Bipolar]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

What does towing a trailer sound like?

The sound of the cup on the trailer rattling around on the towball as you drive over bumps on the road or change your speed. Very annoying when you don't have a trailer on the back. At least when you have one, you know it's still there by that noise.

I'll check that plate out when I go home _2: volcom20. Hopefully that's all it is.

[bdennis]

also could be the diff bump stop (just above the diff yoke) hitting. Now that you have gone to low suspendion that may also cause it. Jack her up and have a look to see if there is any evidence of this hitting. Also could be this bump stop hitting the rear sway bar.. (mine does.!)

[Bipolar]

Checked the plate and it's fine. Will check the clearance around the bump stops tomorrow bdennis. Does yours make a sound and if so, can you get rid of it or is it just a consequence of lowering?

[XR Martin]

I had this problem too, turned out one of the bolts on the bottom of the shock wasnt as tight as it should have been and was thumping over every bump.

[SIKSIX]

my brother had a noise similar to a trailer about after 3 weeks of getting SSL fitted to his au, turned out to be his shocks couldn't handle the pressure from series 1 au rear end height to the height off the SSL and they packed up shop. got new shortened shocks was all good after that but now 7 months down the track i think some of his bushes or sumthing is gone because is sorta a different sound now, all im saying is that it might be the shocks.

[Holbrookau]

The fact that you can hear the noise if you rock the car should make it easy to pinpoint - get someone to bounce the car whilst you're underneath it (on car ramps if too low)
Check top and bottom shock mount rubbers are still intact and nuts are tight.
If the sound appears to be coming from the shock(s) itself then they are probably stuffed.
Which brings us to the #1 question - are these your original shocks or did you have lowered ones (to suit the springs) fitted at the same time?

[Bipolar]

I got the whole kit from Pedders but got my usual guys to install it. I'll probably just end up taking it back to them seeing as unfortunately I don't have much time/equipment/workspace/light to do much or mates who actually love cars. Not really up s*** creek without a paddle, more just up a creek with a s*** paddle. I'll have a look while I'm swapping over my 15s for a brand spanka set of Magnet 18s

Cheers