Noixe in rear suspension of '96 Lumi at low speed?

[Jim Spahr]

My 1996 Lumina 4 door--- not APV--with 72k on it has a noise on right rear suspension at speeds below 10 MPH. What could it be? After reading this forum , I am suspecting the 'monoleaf isolator pads' for the Transverse springs. How do you test these pads to see if they are bad? How hard to replace them? Where is the write up on How To replace them? I went to 'Articles' and found nothing. I am new and am having difficulty finding my way around. Where is the best place to buy them? Is Moog still the brand to get? Or NAPA? It isn't a noixe, but a noise.

Edited July 23, 2012 by Jim Spahr
Missspelled Noise!

[tornado_735]

What kind of sound is it? Wheel bearings will make noise at low speeds when they are in the early stages of failure. I'm getting a noise out of mine on my Lumina at low speeds (it was very apparent when I was pretty much just letting it roll in gear at idle when I was stuck in a 20 mile long traffic jam a couple nights ago).

[Jim Spahr]

The type of noise is a low frequency rumble and only at speeds below 10 MPH. You could also describe it as a series of clunks. Above that speed and the noise seems to go away. It is only on the passenger side. I Googled this on the net and found a reference to the MOOG part no. K6544 for the GM W-body cars 1988-96 EXCEPT Chev Lumina which were for years 90-94. Since I have a 1996, this is a problem. Tornado, I am not ruling out the possiblity of it being a bearing problem.

[cutlassdude96]

your car doesnt have a rear leaf spring under it

[tornado_735]

Sounds to me like a wheel bearing if it's a rumbling noise.

[Jim Spahr]

If it is a rear wheel bearing, what is the test to verify that? Can I jack up the wheel and spin it and, if bad, I will hear and feel a bad bearing making noise and vibrating? Why is it only making a noise at low speed? Cutlass dude, I am trying to find out what is causing the noise in the rear of my 96 Lumina at low speed. I had read a lot about the replacement of the monoleaf spring isolator on this Gen 1 forum and was trying to see if that was the cause of the noise I am hearing. If not that, what are the possible causes?

[AL]

This could be a strut mount problem too I think

[Jim Spahr]

The W-body Gen 1 ran from 88-96 for B-O-P and then for some reason, in 95 and 96 the Lumina split off from the rest of the B-O-P W's.

 

Apparently the 95-96 Lumina was a different design of W-body from the BOP version. I think from reading here that these are designated the Gen 1.5.

What are the differences and where can I read more about the Gen 1.5's? I have looked and see some references but no definitive list of differences.

[cutlassdude96]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_W_platform

[Jim Spahr]

I read the Wiki and found out my 1996 is called a Second gen and has a 3100 SFI engine. This Second gen Lumina is not to be confused with the W-body Gen 2. Aparently the Lumina went it s own way from the W-body group.

Now I still need to find out what common rear suspension problems the Lumi Second Gen had and what are the 'problem solver' solutions. For example, in the W-body with the Gen 1 rear suspension noise, you get a MOOG K6544 which is an monoleaf isolator pad for about $20.00 and install it. Now I know my 96 Lumi doesn't have a transverse leafspring. What does it have and what is the problem /solution?

[rich17]

Strut mounts wuld be my guess. A bad bearing would getting louder with speed. If it were me I would throw new struts and mounts on her. At your mileage they are due anyways

[Jim Spahr]

The 95 and 96 Chev Lumina had rear coil springs and shocks. In 97 ,they went to rear McPherson struts with coils. Here's what Wiki says:

The "generation 1.5" W-body models had updated rear suspensions that used coil springs instead of the leaf spring design. For the 1997 model year the second generation W-body was released with a MacPherson strut coil spring design.

I am happy with this news because it simplifies things. For me, it is easier to replace coils and shocks vs. Struts with compressed springs on them. Cheaper , also. I will need to check the exhaust pipes for rattles as well.

[skitchin]

The type of noise is a low frequency rumble and only at speeds below 10 MPH. You could also describe it as a series of clunks. Above that speed and the noise seems to go away. It is only on the passenger side.

 

Just for good measure, check out the tire on that side for any bulges in the sidewall or anything that may have punctured your tire. I know it's a long shot but it's also probably the easiest to check.

 

Hub-bearings are usually a pretty steady whirring sound, kind of like a propeller. Does the frequency/pitch of the sound change with speed?

[Jim Spahr]

No, the freq/pitch does not change with speed. It only does this clunking noise at low speed. Above 10 mph, it goes away. If it is a hub bearing, would jacking up that wheel and spinning it allow you to hear it? Or does the hub have to have load on it?

[rich17]

The 95 and 96 Chev Lumina had rear coil springs and shocks. In 97 ,they went to rear McPherson struts with coils. Here's what Wiki says:

The "generation 1.5" W-body models had updated rear suspensions that used coil springs instead of the leaf spring design. For the 1997 model year the second generation W-body was released with a MacPherson strut coil spring design.

I am happy with this news because it simplifies things. For me, it is easier to replace coils and shocks vs. Struts with compressed springs on them. Cheaper , also. I will need to check the exhaust pipes for rattles as well.

 

WIKI does have some good information but in this case theyre wrong. the 95-01 Lumina and 95-99 montes have the same Macpherson strut design in the back.

[AL]

Id jack up the rear end and shake the wheel... Its possible for the hub to have some play in it... My old 03 GP had 3 wheel bearings go bad, none growled or caused the abs light, they just had up and down play in them

[Jim Spahr]

I won't be the first time Wiki was wrong.

[Jim Spahr]

When I first got this car it had a set of the original General tires on it. One had separated and the noise, I was sure was a rear bearing going bad. The noise was at 45-55 IIRC. I called Sam Memmolo's radio show and he said it was probably a bad tire, not a bearing. Rotate the tires front to back and see if the noise follows. It did.

[Jim Spahr]

I finally went to look under the 96 Lumi to see if had McPherson struts like this forum says or springs and shocks on the rear like Wiki said it did. Even though it was a 99* day and humid, I got under and sure enough it is not a separate coil spring with a traditional shock as I had hoped. It is a strut with a spring attached to the top plate. I am back to the spring compressor and wondering what else I need to buy to do the job. There is no Quick -Strut assembly for the front-they sell cartridge inserts!- and I don't think there is one for the rear, either.

[Jim Spahr]

Mystery solved. The 'bounce test' said nothing. The spin test was quiet. We put the Lumi up on my neighbor's lift. There was no play in the rear wheel hub's on either side. Then he could see that the right rear McPherson strut lower spring seat was split and coming out of the 'pocket'. That was causing the noise in the right rear. The front struts are worn out, and the rear's are almost gone. So rather than just replace the one lower spring seat, we might as well go ahead and replace all four of the struts. Any recommendations on best struts? I keep hearing KYB GR-2 and Monroe. Anyone know of a Quick Strut or Easy Strut replacement? That is the strut assembly with a new spring and strut already assembled. All the sites I have checked don't list one for the 96 Lumi.

 

Edited July 27, 2012 by Jim Spahr
misspelled sites!

[Night Fury]

Rockauto!

[skitchin]

I like the GR-2's, have em on all four corners!