Squeaking noise from driver rear side - Likely culprit?

[E30 Cabrio]

I've noticed that my car makes a slight squeaking noise coming from the driver side rear of the car when ever I enter or exit the car. It is barely noticeable, but it's there.

I'll have to go thru my records to refresh my memory on what's been done.

I bought the car 20 months ago with 110K on it, and it just rolled 117K

The previous two owners took good care of the car and had everything serviced and replaced at the dealership, except oil changes which were done at the discount places.

I also noticed a slight creaking sound coming from the same area when stopping.

I took a look underneath and everything passes the visual test, including the shock mounts which I remember were replaced fairly recently and still look new.

Suspension is stock, but I remember a lot of things such as T-arm bushings were done at some point, and a few other things, but I'll have to check my records.

In the meantime, what would be the likely cause?

Other then that, the car doesn't squeak or rattle, so this is really bugging me.

[blunttech]

it could be any or all of the following.
sway bar bushings,shock mounts, trailing arm bushings maybe even subframe mounts but doubt it. it doesnt have to be poly to squeak.

[BBY1104]

Hmm, gonna ask a friend, but maybe because the bushing or mounts are new they squeek?

[Hallen]

It could very easily be your sway bar bushings. Also, your parking brake will squeak back there every time you get into or out of the car. Unless it is really obnoxious, I wouldn't worry about it.

[txleadfoot]

my parking brake squeaks when entering or exiting the car. if it squeaks while moving, it might be the rear shock mount (an easy fix).

[george graves]

parking brake - "they all do that"

[E30 Cabrio]

So if it is the P Brake, it would only squeak when exiting/entering the car if it were set?

I would assume so. I'll test it out after work.

[John1180]

It's the shock mount, I just changed mine today. No more squeaky.

Quick job, only took about 15 minutes!

[E30_fiend]

Yes check the shock mounts. They frequently fail.

Spend the extra money and buy some aluminum ones from Ireland engineering.


E30_Fiend

[Eric Giles]

It's the parking brake-as George said, they all do that. And not just E30's-my E36 M3 and a couple of my E46's did it too.

[george graves]

Yea, I guess there is a fix for it (at least on newer bimmers, cause I remember talking to M3 Ryan, (he is/was a BMW dealer tech) and I remember him mention that customers would notice it and bring their e46(?) in to have it fixed.

No clue - I haven't touched the breaks on my e30 yet (damn pads are lasting forever and a day)

[E30 Cabrio]

Shock mounts were done replaced about 12K ago and look new. I read thru my recs last night and I will go over them today and post what's been recently replaced.

And if anyone knows the fix for the P Brake, please post it. Maybe it just needs an adjustment?

[Eric Giles]

Shock mounts were done replaced about 12K ago and look new. I read thru my recs last night and I will go over them today and post what's been recently replaced.

And if anyone knows the fix for the P Brake, please post it. Maybe it just needs an adjustment?

Not sure what the exact fix would be, since I have always lived with it and accepted that they will do that.

However, since the parking brake assembly is the most likely culprit, replacing all of the associated parts might fix it for a while. This would be replacing the parking brake shoes on each side, plus the rear rotors as the inside of the rotors is what the parking brake shoes come in contact with.

[NC325iC]

if your car is lowered its the shock mounts, even if they were replaced 12k miles ago, on a lowered cab stock ones go out real fast

[E30 Cabrio]

Suspension is stock and the shock mounts look like new and have about 12K on them.

It's the P Brake. When I got into the car at work to leave a few minutes ago, it squeaked. I got out, it squeaked. I released the P Brake, got in, got out, got in, no squeaking.

Does the self-adjuster work by backing up and applying the brakes on E30's? Or do they have to be manually adjusted by poking a flathead screwdriver in there and turning the adjuster?

Might shoot some WD-40 on the parts other then the shoes and drums to see if it resolves it.

The E30 P Brake looks like the standard P Brake design of most cars, using a smaller drum brake and drum brake shoes.

It probably also explains the slight "creaking" noise coming from the same area on starts and stops.

Thanks.