98 S70, N/A Weird "spring-popping" sound from rear right wheel

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 22 Jan 2016, 10:36

Hey guys, have a question for you all. So my wife's car has developed a new sound! From the right rear wheel, upon start up and first moving the car, there is this sound--I can only describe it like a spring popping--that occurs and never again occurs during the driving of the car. I have looked at the rear shock (it's got a shiny new Gabriel back there!) and I don't see anything out of the ordinary, same with the spring and the lower spring seat. Could this mean that the spring is broken in a place I cannot easily see? (But how come the sound only occurs upon start up?) I told my wife that the sound can't be "that" serious if it doesn't occur at highway speeds or even driving around town. Again, there are no other sounds coming from that side of the when driving... I'm thinking it's one of the rear rubber mount pieces that after moving, doesn't make a sound... (I'm planning on replacing them when it's warmer!) Does anyone have any idea what this sound might be? It also does seem to have worsened as the weather has turned colder... (Like our dreaded P0455!!!) Thanks guys!!

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 22 Jan 2016, 11:10

It could be a parking brake shoe hanging up.

You indicated the shocks are new. I would check the top mounting nut on the shock to make sure it is tight but beyond that the usual suspects are the end links and/or the bushings on the trailing arms.

...Lee

Post by **E Showell** » 22 Jan 2016, 11:14

Parking brake shoe sounds right. Can she park it on a level and not apply the parking brake overnight? If so and she doesn't hear the sound the next morning on start-up, there's your answer.

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 22 Jan 2016, 11:23

Oh my gosh, of course it's the parking brake! That would be the only other spring capable of making a sound! E., yes, she can. Sometimes...

I put in new parking brake shoes when we purchased the car last year, I'll give them a look over and readjust them. Of course, I'll have to wait until it warms up here in NYC.

I'm going to tell her when she parks in the driveway to not use the parking brake and to only put it in reverse and see if the noise goes away. Thanks you guys!! Really, really appreciate it!

Post by **scot850** » 22 Jan 2016, 20:21

It is most likely the cables have frozen (rust not water although that could happen). The cable is dragging.

Neil.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 23 Jan 2016, 00:01

scot850 wrote:It is most likely the cables have frozen (rust not water although that could happen). The cable is dragging.

Neil.

+1

The cables are no picnic to change. You need to work both outside the car with the grime and on the interior where you need to run the cables under the carpet and you don't want to get the grime on the pretty interior. I think we have a couple of tutorials in the repair database that give some great tips.

...Lee

Post by **abscate** » 23 Jan 2016, 06:15

New shoes are often sticky and can adhere to the drums.

My 1999 still does this 3 years after the brake job.

On edit - added punctuation to meet MVS standards.

Post by **scot850** » 23 Jan 2016, 07:53

Cable change is not easy, but at least it is not an AWD! The main issue I have found to the cables failing is lack of servicing in the first place. I would suggest an 1-2 year check to ensure the parking brake mechanism is not seized. This I believe is the main reason for the cables breaking or snapping. The lever arm and pivots at the rear hub seize on their pivots, so a good clean and grease should help maintain them for a lot longer, particularly if you live in a area of the world with a lot of damp and/or salt on the roads.

Neil.

Post by **oragex** » 23 Jan 2016, 07:56

Also make sure the drums are not rusted where the shoes slide on it. While driving at lower speed, pull lightly the handbrake until you feel some friction. This helps clean the rust from the drums if there is only a little bit of rust. I do this regularly to keep the rust off the drums.