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Noise in rear suspension

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by amphijim, Mar 14, 2007.

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  1. amphijim

    amphijim Rookie

    Jun 21, 2006
    29
    San Pedro, CA
    Full Name:
    Jim Z
    #1 amphijim, Mar 14, 2007
    My car has a strange noise which eminates from the rear suspension. It is difficult to describe - the best I can do is to say it sounds like a whistle or high-pitched wheeze. It is always present, though worse when the car is warmed up, and occurs when the body lifts over bumps. It is also audible when I exit the car after parking.
    The rear shocks were shot and recently replaced, however, the noise existed before and after the shock replacement. If anything, it is worse now than before. I've checked the hydralic lines, accumulators, etc. for leaks and find none. And I'm running out of ideas.
    The system works beautifully, but the noise is both a curiosity and an annoyance. Has anyone else experienced such a thing? Any ideas for a fix?
     
  2. SonomaRik

    SonomaRik F1 Veteran

    Dec 15, 2006
    6,904
    Folsom, CA (formerly Sonoma)
    #2 SonomaRik, Mar 14, 2007
    your 456M
    is the noise coming from the left back quad area....

    have you noticed this when engine turned off?...say just after parking?
     
  3. amphijim

    amphijim Rookie

    Jun 21, 2006
    29
    San Pedro, CA
    Full Name:
    Jim Z
    #3 amphijim, Mar 14, 2007
    Funny you should ask. I've always noticed it from the right rear, however the last time I heard it (the last time I drove it) it seemed especially loud coming from the left rear. If I had to point to where I thought the sound came from, it would be near the top of the wheel, if that makes any sense.
    And yes, I do hear the noise with the engine off. Once parked and shut down, when I exit the vehicle I'll hear it, a long steady noise. The car raises up some when I leave it, as any vehicle would once it no longer has to support the weight of a human. This happens quickly, however the sound is audible for several seconds. I have tried to bounce the car by hand to see if I could hear it, but have been unsuccessful in my attempts.
     
  4. bayareaferrari

    bayareaferrari Formula Junior

    Dec 19, 2004
    672
    California
    #4 bayareaferrari, Mar 14, 2007
    Could it be the radiator fan?
     
  5. amphijim

    amphijim Rookie

    Jun 21, 2006
    29
    San Pedro, CA
    Full Name:
    Jim Z
    #5 amphijim, Mar 15, 2007
    I never thought to look at that. The sound occurs when the body moves upward - I haven't determined if it occurs when moving down. I can certainly poke around back there and check the fans, make sure they're not hitting anything they shouldn't.
     
  6. amphijim

    amphijim Rookie

    Jun 21, 2006
    29
    San Pedro, CA
    Full Name:
    Jim Z
    #6 amphijim, Mar 15, 2007
    BTW, to clear up any possible confusion, this is not an M car. It is a '97 GTA.
     
  7. SonomaRik

    SonomaRik F1 Veteran

    Dec 15, 2006
    6,904
    Folsom, CA (formerly Sonoma)
    #7 SonomaRik, Mar 15, 2007
    have the same noise in a 'new' 456 GT with 28k miles. Actually, it's quite ANNOYING..does off at regular intervals....reluctant to take it in, but I know I should.
    have noticed it after driving and parking it...sounds almost like pres. might be releasing from gas tank [not probable], or
    more likely the left rear wheel motor that asjusts the suspension....but why ....it sounds like a pressure function, like a line or something....

    prob. is, can't get to the sound...it's somewhere in the wheel well area or just above it.
     
  8. amphijim

    amphijim Rookie

    Jun 21, 2006
    29
    San Pedro, CA
    Full Name:
    Jim Z
    #8 amphijim, Mar 15, 2007
    Well, at least I'm not the only one. What you describe is exactly what happens to my car. You can hear it as you drive, but the sound is really hard to pinpoint.
     
  9. SonomaRik

    SonomaRik F1 Veteran

    Dec 15, 2006
    6,904
    Folsom, CA (formerly Sonoma)
    #9 SonomaRik, Mar 15, 2007
    am determined to find the answer before handing it over to SF-F for a lookie-see...trying to cut down on my Ferrari expenses......

    have a nephew I can strap inside the boot......

    BTW, you have any seat issues with using the side buttons and having the seat move fwd?

    I have the diagrams to tear the Passenger side apart, but waiting to see.
     
  10. amphijim

    amphijim Rookie

    Jun 21, 2006
    29
    San Pedro, CA
    Full Name:
    Jim Z
    #10 amphijim, Mar 16, 2007
    Hmmm... Maybe I could borrow the nephew when you're done? Seriously, I'm wanting to do the same thing - see if I can find out what it is before I take it in for $ervice. My friend and I have been pretty good (lucky?) about finding noises and fixing them. This one has me flummoxed, though.
    I do not have any difficulties with my power seats. I do recall vaguely that the passenger seat didn't want to move when I first got the car, but working the switch a couple of times fixed this and it's been fine ever since. At any rate, it happens I keep the seats all the way rearward anyway. It's the only way I can fit in the car.
    Does your seat move forward when you fold the seatback for rear seat entry? If so then the works are good, and it's likely a bad or dirty connection at the switch. If you haven't done so already, check the fuses, then look for loose connections under the seat. Could just be dirty contacts in the switch, too.
     
  11. SonomaRik

    SonomaRik F1 Veteran

    Dec 15, 2006
    6,904
    Folsom, CA (formerly Sonoma)
    #11 SonomaRik, Mar 16, 2007
    "flummoxed"
    wow, had to wiki that.....love it when I get something new everyday....

    ok, did have a couple fuse problems right off. First reaction for a new car is leave it alone, or replace all the fuses, but usually that causes more circuit problems than necessary. Kind of like old fashioned tube replacements, where the circuit adjusts to the play of weak tubes, and then causes outages when you replace a weak tube with a new one....where am I going with that...well, did have a bunch of circuit problems right off, and messing with a couple did help...

    will look there, the fuze box lid is a problem in design in my estimation...the passenger can press on the plate and possible hit the tops of some relays...thinking of reinforcing with a couple welds to make that plate ROCK hard, no flex.

    love this car....taking on a journey this weekend, will let you know about the noise ...

    PS: nephew works for rides.....easy take
     
  12. feyeping

    feyeping Rookie

    Oct 15, 2006
    15
    Hong Kong
    #12 feyeping, May 22, 2007
    Hi,

    My 98 456M also has similar problem with its rear shocks.

    The dealer said it is a common problem and it is not practical to fix it (because the problem will re-occur very soon).

    I am contemplating to sell the car because of this annoying problem.

    Any advice?
     
  13. SonomaRik

    SonomaRik F1 Veteran

    Dec 15, 2006
    6,904
    Folsom, CA (formerly Sonoma)
    #13 SonomaRik, May 22, 2007
    I will look more into it...having the 456 get it yearly fluid changes as we speak.
    You mention plural. do you have the noise in just ONE area or both, becuase both would be a new one on me....this is not a sell item for me...having too much fun with it.....
     
  14. amphijim

    amphijim Rookie

    Jun 21, 2006
    29
    San Pedro, CA
    Full Name:
    Jim Z
    #14 amphijim, May 23, 2007
    From driver's seat, sound seems to come from right rear. Upon exiting the car after parking it, I hear it from the left rear. I haven't run around the car when it is parked to see if I also hear it on the right.
    The noise is annoying, but I would never consider selling the car because of it. It's just one of a few quirky things that car does. If I could fix it, I would. If not, oh well. In the two years I've owned it, the car has never run better than it does right now, suspension noise notwithstanding. My friend suggests I just put Tubis on and I'll never hear the noise again. Hmm... maybe he's got something there!
     
  15. SonomaRik

    SonomaRik F1 Veteran

    Dec 15, 2006
    6,904
    Folsom, CA (formerly Sonoma)
    #15 SonomaRik, May 23, 2007
    ditto:

    Put my ear to the left rear upper C pillar [actually can hear without it] and it sounds like a high pitch release of liquid/air which made me believe the shocks are releasing in that area. Talked with FofSF yesterday and they mentioned [although new guy wasn't quite sure] that there is a hydrolic+mechanical type mech for shocks, where in my Mondial T, the adjustment is created by a little motor turning a gear.

    They said they would inspect after driving....will know in a couple days
     
  16. DM18

    DM18 F1 Rookie

    Apr 29, 2005
    4,725
    Hong Kong
    #16 DM18, May 24, 2007
     
  17. Gary48

    Gary48 Guest

    Dec 30, 2003
    940
    #17 Gary48, May 24, 2007
    I found it!, at least on mine anyway. Very annoying thumping or rattle similar to an exaust pipe too close to the frame when going over bumps in the road.
    Had my 550 up on the rack several times and couldn't find a thing, then one day while walking around my car I had noticed that one of the exhaust tips was drooping down, I grabbed it and it was flopping around attached by only one bolt, the top bolt had broken by metal fatigue. This was the tip that contains the vacume activated butterfly. This tip is much heavier because of the mechanism and probably contibuted to the fatigue.
     
  18. SonomaRik

    SonomaRik F1 Veteran

    Dec 15, 2006
    6,904
    Folsom, CA (formerly Sonoma)
    #18 SonomaRik, May 24, 2007
    ? , pic please
     
  19. enbanfe

    enbanfe Karting

    Jan 25, 2006
    127
    Princeton NJ
    Full Name:
    Ed
    #19 enbanfe, May 24, 2007
    Rik,

    Do you mind sharing the seat diagrams? I am have the same problem with my seats. So far checking the fuses and and contacts has not helped.

    Thanks.
     
  20. Gary48

    Gary48 Guest

    Dec 30, 2003
    940
    #20 Gary48, May 24, 2007
    Be specific please, a pic of what?
     
  21. SonomaRik

    SonomaRik F1 Veteran

    Dec 15, 2006
    6,904
    Folsom, CA (formerly Sonoma)
    #21 SonomaRik, May 24, 2007
    I do have some manuals, but not as good as what I've seen on this site

    http://www.eurospares.co.uk/partTable.asp?M=1&Mo=568&A=2&B=31336&S=

    next pages are the electrical...you can enlarge the pic, print it, and track the part numbers and 'supposed' prices....

    keep flipping through the upper index, a bit getting used to.
     
  22. SonomaRik

    SonomaRik F1 Veteran

    Dec 15, 2006
    6,904
    Folsom, CA (formerly Sonoma)
    #22 SonomaRik, May 24, 2007
    It was for the above exhaust tip. Not sure what/where you were looking, could you point me to item using
    http://www.eurospares.co.uk site?
    thanks.
     
  23. Gary48

    Gary48 Guest

    Dec 30, 2003
    940
    #23 Gary48, May 24, 2007
    Rik, no problem, its the rearmost exaust extention (2) each side, the last part of the exaust to protrude from the rear of the car. Sorry no pic available. One of the tips on each side is bolted on, this is the one I had the problem with.
     
  24. SonomaRik

    SonomaRik F1 Veteran

    Dec 15, 2006
    6,904
    Folsom, CA (formerly Sonoma)
    #24 SonomaRik, May 25, 2007
    Got it. However, not sure this is the same type of noise I am describing. Picked up 456 after fluid changes this Friday/today. and no noise to be heard even after a rather pushed and long ride....oh, well, I know it'll be back... thread goes on.
     
  25. feyeping

    feyeping Rookie

    Oct 15, 2006
    15
    Hong Kong
    #25 feyeping, May 26, 2007
    It is difficult to pinpoint the source of the noise. I think they are from both rear suspensions. BTW, it sounds a bit like Darth Vader's breathing. After replacing both accumulators in my car, the noise has become less intolerable. But, I reckon there must be a cure. The dealer said some owners have disabled the self-levelling system. While it worked, the driving quality was affected and the system was enabled again (reluctantly).
     
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