Wll i recently purchased my 79 from a friend's mom who didnt drive the car much. It sat for the better part of a year, and since i bought it, i've driven it about 5 times. I can hear a creaking coming from the rear end that sounds like something is very dry back there, but i can't pinpoint where it is coming from. It will do it in drive, or reverse, when the car is moving. Any ideas on what it can be?

Kyle

Could be the teflon "pads" inside of the spring leafs. The might have dried out or fallen out

Unfortunately there could be lots of other possibilities for that sound also. You didn't mention if the sound is made by the car rolling or bouncing.

If it's made by bouncing, after backing up on a pair of ramps have a helper gently bounce the rear of the car (the ol' shock absorber test) while you're underneath on a creeper. Could be dry bushings (in any number of places) or dry seals on the shocks as well as what Chris mentioned.

If it's made when rolling put the rear of the car up on jack stands and turn the wheels by hand listening for the sound. I know it seems crazy, but it could be something in your brakes, u-joints or even bearings.

Happy hunting...!!!

The person i bought it from said they never heard that noise before, and it didnt happen the first day i was driving it either....it happened the 2nd time i had the car out i believe. I think it has something to do with the brakes myself...i checked the shocks, they dont creak, its only when the car is in motion, which makes me think possibly the Emergency Brake is engaged, or something like that. It sounds like something is binded up back there....thanx for the help guys...if you think of anything else, lemmie know

Kyle

One of the things I did when overhauling the brakes on "The Toy" last fall was to get the parking brakes sorted out. One side was frozen and the other barely engaged. A lot of places will just pull all that stuff out when doing the rear brakes, but with a manual tranny I like having a functional parking brake.

Taking it all part wasn't that bad a job, neither was cleaning up things that I planned to reuse. The real P.I.T.A. was putting the parking brakes back together. Naturally I didn't have the correct tools for the job, but I don't think even they would have helped much.

Good luck!

Jim O.
Save the Wave...!!!

Thanks for the info Jim...another thing i am considering is the U joints. The car does have a little shake to it when it creaks too...i just have to get under there and pull it apart. I guess the easiest way is to eliminate the things that AREN'T making the noise. I'll keep you guys posted...

Kyle

Hi

Just for the heck of it check the pockets where the trailing arm bushings are through bolted. I traced all my strange noises there.

Pozz33

This sounds like a Ford problem, are you sure you're on the right forum?

(I can say that, I have one and it creaks plenty)