Since I got the truck there's been a crunching noise from the back. It's not a squeak, it's more of a creaking/crunching noise. I replaced all 4 shocks but it's still there. Could this noise be the leaf springs? I tried washing them and spraying them with a dry silicone spray but it didn't work. Someone else suggested loosening the bolts and pressure washing them to get rid of the dirt in between the springs. It seems like noisy springs is common, but I never had that happen on my last H3 so I'm wondering, is the noise fixable with cleaning, are the leaf springs bad, or is it something else?

I hear the noise as soon as I take off slowly or if I'm on a straight away and go side to side so I'm figuring it has to be the suspension.

Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

Ben

 

Find the source, then address it. Can you make the noise by bouncing the rig up and down? If so, get yourself a mechanic's stethoscope, and a helper. Get under it and poke around with your stethoscope, while your helper is bouncing that rig up and down. As soon as you find the source, lube the H3LL out of it. GL

BTW, abnormal noises = excessive friction = premature wear.

 

I have an 07 and I too have had creaking and squeaking noises coming from under
the vehicle. I especially hear them after a trip to the dirt roads and desert dust that gets every where.
I usually power wash under the truck the best I can and let dry, then use a spray dry silicone
on all the body mounts (rubber bushings) and leaf spring, sway bar connection joints.
It is generally only a temporary fix, but it does make a big difference
Give it a shot

 

if you bounce it on the driveway you will know if its springs/suspension.
if you lift the rear and spin the wheels you will know if its the driveline.
what else can it be?


my guess is spring supports

 

A new development in my spring noise, in anticipation of the newest snow storm, I put two 40 pound sand bags in the back of the truck, one on each side above the rear wheels. I didn't notice on my way home last night, but today, I noticed that the noise was gone! So it's either the added weight that affected something and quieted it down, or all the wet snow/rain today cleaned out something that had some dirt build up. I guess I won't know until I take the bags out but I'm afraid to since it's so nice not hearing that noise. If anyone knows if the added weight making things better points to something specific that's still wrong, I'd appreciate any new info. Thanks!

 

Sand bags? You have a 5400lb + full time 4wheel drive SUV with an almost perfect front to rear weight ratio of 52/48.

 

And I have mud tires! Yeah, a little overkill, but I'm punch drunk from all the snow so when they said we were getting another foot I wasn't messing around. I'm going to see tomorrow if it was the extra weight that stopped the noises or if they miraculously fixed themselves.

 

Not sure if your still having the noise issue - but you should check the front/rear of the main leaf spring where it mounts to the frame. Mine was cracked completely through on the drivers side. Replaced both sides.

Good Luck.

08 H3 ALPHA, Summit White, 305 BFG KM2's, K&N, etc.