Why does the rear suspension make noise when turning?
Kia Sportage, 80k miles. When I turn left sharply, there's this squeaking or squealing noise coming from the back. On a straight road everything's fine. What could it be?
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On a sharp turn, the Sportage's rear suspension experiences maximum load, and the squeaking is usually caused by the stabilizer bars or stabilizer bushings - they've just dried out and started to squeak. There could also be play in the shock absorber mounts or wear on the rubber boots, which causes metal to rub against metal. At 80 thousand kilometers on your odometer, that's pretty normal wear and tear. I'd recommend lifting the car on a lift and inspecting the rear shock absorber mounts and stabilizer bushings - if there's play there, that's exactly what it is. Lubricate or replace the bushings and the problem will be solved.
I agree that the stabilizer is a common cause, but squeaking on turns can come from more than just that. When the Sportage takes a sharp turn, the rear suspension experiences lateral load, and if the squeak happens specifically during the maneuver, you should check the stabilizer bushings, the mounting pads of the suspension arms, and the arms themselves. Often it's dried out or worn rubber bushings that are to blame - they lose their elasticity, metal starts contacting metal, and that's where the squeak comes from.
At 80 thousand kilometers that's a pretty realistic scenario. I'd recommend first going to a pit or lift and asking the mechanic to wiggle the suspension arms up and down to check for play. If there's no play but the squeak remains, try lubricating the stabilizer bushings with silicone grease - sometimes that helps temporarily. But if the bushings are actually worn, then grease is only half the solution.
One more thing - check if the skid plate is rattling or if there's some plastic piece loose. Sometimes it's those that make weird noises under lateral loads. If the sound is clearly metallic and coming from underneath, then it's definitely the suspension, not plastic.
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