Where did the chickens come from???

[Marky]

Hopefully the title of this thread will make more sense after you read the post

I have a strange noise coming from the rear of the car. Its a squeaking/creaking noise that sounds like I am smuggling chickens in the boot!

I can only hear it when driving very slowly in traffic (between 5-10 mph).
After that the noise either ceases or other noises drown it out.

I have also been feeling that the rear of the car isn't quite right. If you change directions fairly quickly, like going over a roundabout at a decent speed, the rear doesn't feel as though its travelling the same direction as the front, especially noticeable if the road isn't that smooth.

I had new tyres fitted last weekend so I asked the guys to do a quick check of the suspension and they said it was fine.

Would this be knackered wheel bearings???

The car has done 109k miles and the rear springs were replaced abouut 30k miles ago.

[Ian-Highlander]

More likely to be rear shocks need replacing.

[bobssignum]

I suspect this may be your upper suspension control arms (banana arms)when these go they make the car feel as if its driving on ice to check ,jack the car up and hold the wheel at 12 and 6 position and see if there is any play in the bearing .
what was the tyre wear like on the ones you replaced another tell tale sign of banana arms failing is uneven wear usually on the inside of the tyre face.

[Jezzy]

The noise could be from worn rear anti-roll bar bushes, the poor handling from the rear upper control arms needing replacing.

[Marky]

I suspect this may be your upper suspension control arms (banana arms)when these go they make the car feel as if its driving on ice to check ,jack the car up and hold the wheel at 12 and 6 position and see if there is any play in the bearing.

So there should be no play at all?
Will give this ago on Friday

what was the tyre wear like on the ones you replaced another tell tale sign of banana arms failing is uneven wear usually on the inside of the tyre face.

I had the front tyres done not the rears.
I'll check for uneven wear at the rear at lunch time, though I am sure the garage would have said if there was a problem.

[Marky]

The noise could be from worn rear anti-roll bar bushes.

How would I check these?

[Jezzy]

I suspect this may be your upper suspension control arms (banana arms)when these go they make the car feel as if its driving on ice to check ,jack the car up and hold the wheel at 12 and 6 position and see if there is any play in the bearing .
what was the tyre wear like on the ones you replaced another tell tale sign of banana arms failing is uneven wear usually on the inside of the tyre face.

I thought you do that test with the wheel on the ground?

[john1]

i had the squeeking from th rear offside & it turned out to be the upper control arm, there wasn't any play in it but the swivel bush in it had completely dried out, £26 for a new one & an hr to replace it. passenger side is starting to chirp on now though.

[Marky]

I thought you do that test with the wheel on the ground?

No, it should be done with no load on the wheel.
Besides how could you get your hands into the 6 o'clock position

I presume I should try and pull the wheel towards myself rather than rock the wheel up and down??

[Marky]

I had a look at the rear tyres and they are fine. Wear looks pretty even.

I also had a quick look under the car and couldn't see anything obvious. Though I didn't raise the car.

All the bushes were bulging but none looked damaged. Both rear dampers looked as though they had some form of oily-dusty deposits on them but it looked quite even all around the lower part of the damper.