Squeak coming from the left rear of the car

wasupdu · 05-13-2010, 09:47 AM

Kind of a random problem, but I have a squeak coming from the driver's side (left) rear area in the wheel well somewhere. I don't notice it when I'm driving because of road noise, but it's noticeable every time I get into the car and sit down....only the driver's side though. I've tried getting into the passenger side and there's no noise.

FWIW, I'm about 185 lbs and I'm not jumping into the driver's seat either....LOL

Any ideas what to check?

onebluemcm · 05-13-2010, 10:04 AM

Maybe see if you can get somebody to try to move the body up and down while you listen and look to see if you can localize it better. Maybe it's a dried out bushing, perhaps it's coming from spring movement - the springs will rotate a bit as they compress, could be that. It's probably some suspension component that needs some lube, or is worn out and needs to be replaced. The latter may be more likely just because so few chassis items are serviceable items any more.

wasupdu · 05-13-2010, 10:04 AM

Nevermind. From reading other threads it sounds like this is likely the parking brake.

When I get home tonight I'll try sitting in the car with the brake OFF and see what happens. I guess next time I'll

better.

inTgr8r · 05-13-2010, 10:10 AM

It's definitely parking brake related.

I had this with my M roadster and after searching in vane, I just lived with it.
Strange thing is that my M Coupe doesn't do it.

So there must be a cure for it, but damned if I know how.

Blind32 · 05-13-2010, 10:29 AM

+1 Parking brake, My E46 had it and would freak me out occasionally.

inTgr8r · 05-13-2010, 10:50 AM

^ did you ever locate it?
It drove me nuts looking for it.

There has to be a clip or a clamp that the cable passes though.

The HACK · 05-13-2010, 11:52 AM

Release the parking brake.

It's not a problem. It's the nature of how the parking brake in the rear works. It's a shoe-on-drum brake using the rear rotor hub as the drum. When you get in and out of the car, or when the suspension moves up and down the wheel moves enough to force the drum to move against the shoe slightly and causes a squeaking noise.

inTgr8r · 05-13-2010, 11:57 AM

Maybe, but I have other cars (several) with the same internal shoe on drum and don't get this sound.
Also, my M Roady did this, but my M Coupe does not.

05-13-2010, 09:47 AM	#1
wasupdu Lieutenant 24 Rep 413 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0, CLS63 AMG Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 Mercedes CLS63 ... [0.00] 2005 BMW Z4 [0.00]	Squeak coming from the left rear of the car Kind of a random problem, but I have a squeak coming from the driver's side (left) rear area in the wheel well somewhere. I don't notice it when I'm driving because of road noise, but it's noticeable every time I get into the car and sit down....only the driver's side though. I've tried getting into the passenger side and there's no noise. FWIW, I'm about 185 lbs and I'm not jumping into the driver's seat either....LOL Any ideas what to check? __________________ 2005 BMW Z4 Roadster 3.0 - Black Sapphire with Red Extended Leather / NAV / Premium & Sport Pkgs / 19" wheels / M steering wheel / Xenon 2013 Mercedes CLS63 AMG
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05-13-2010, 10:04 AM	#2
onebluemcm Captain 42 Rep 632 Posts Drives: '07 Z4MC Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Richmond, VA iTrader: (0)	Maybe see if you can get somebody to try to move the body up and down while you listen and look to see if you can localize it better. Maybe it's a dried out bushing, perhaps it's coming from spring movement - the springs will rotate a bit as they compress, could be that. It's probably some suspension component that needs some lube, or is worn out and needs to be replaced. The latter may be more likely just because so few chassis items are serviceable items any more.
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05-13-2010, 10:04 AM	#3
wasupdu Lieutenant 24 Rep 413 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0, CLS63 AMG Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 Mercedes CLS63 ... [0.00] 2005 BMW Z4 [0.00]	Nevermind. From reading other threads it sounds like this is likely the parking brake. When I get home tonight I'll try sitting in the car with the brake OFF and see what happens. I guess next time I'll better. __________________ 2005 BMW Z4 Roadster 3.0 - Black Sapphire with Red Extended Leather / NAV / Premium & Sport Pkgs / 19" wheels / M steering wheel / Xenon 2013 Mercedes CLS63 AMG
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05-13-2010, 10:10 AM	#4
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2426 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	It's definitely parking brake related. I had this with my M roadster and after searching in vane, I just lived with it. Strange thing is that my M Coupe doesn't do it. So there must be a cure for it, but damned if I know how. __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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05-13-2010, 10:29 AM	#5
Blind32 Certified Adrenaline Junkie 41 Rep 1,325 Posts Drives: '07 Z4MC Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dallas TX iTrader: (2)	+1 Parking brake, My E46 had it and would freak me out occasionally.
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05-13-2010, 10:50 AM	#6
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2426 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	^ did you ever locate it? It drove me nuts looking for it. There has to be a clip or a clamp that the cable passes though. __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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05-13-2010, 11:52 AM	#7
The HACK Midlife Crises Racing Silent but Deadly Class 1820 Rep 5,337 Posts Drives: 2006 MZ4C, 2021 Tesla Model 3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Welcome to Jamaica have a nice day iTrader: (1)	Release the parking brake. It's not a problem. It's the nature of how the parking brake in the rear works. It's a shoe-on-drum brake using the rear rotor hub as the drum. When you get in and out of the car, or when the suspension moves up and down the wheel moves enough to force the drum to move against the shoe slightly and causes a squeaking noise.
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05-13-2010, 11:57 AM	#8
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2426 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	Maybe, but I have other cars (several) with the same internal shoe on drum and don't get this sound. Also, my M Roady did this, but my M Coupe does not. __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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