rear left bumper squeak

brucelidat · 12-12-2011, 07:32 PM

So when washing my car or just leaning on it in general sometimes with my hand when I am getting something out of the hatch, I hear it squeak in the area where the bumper meets the rear driver side tail light. It doesn't happen on the other side, though. The bumper edge where it meets the taillight also seems to flex more and have more space between parts than the other side. Is this normal or do I have some fitment/quality issues?

kenchan · 12-12-2011, 07:38 PM

Its not normal, but try applying a thin layer of white lithium grease in the nook.

Also check from under the rear bumper as it could be the styrofoam making the noise.

brucelidat · 12-12-2011, 08:01 PM

If the spacing doesn't seem even with the spacing on the other side where the bumper meets the passenger side taillight, could I take ti tot he dealer and just have them adjust it or something? I don't really have tools for getting the car up.

AlexRaymond19 · 12-12-2011, 10:08 PM

The flex is normal... Mine does it too. Pretty annoying if you ask me. Anyway, no idea what the sound is

zero · 12-12-2011, 10:18 PM

After installing the JDM tail lights, I had a squeak sound on passager side tail light. I re-installed and adjusted the tail light and now it's gone.

KillerBee370 · 12-13-2011, 02:13 AM

It's called plastic on plastic. Nothing wrong here. I've got it on the starboard side of the killerbee. Plastic bumber rubbing on plastic taillight.

Nothing to see here folks... move along.

kenchan · 12-13-2011, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucelidat

If the spacing doesn't seem even with the spacing on the other side where the bumper meets the passenger side taillight, could I take ti tot he dealer and just have them adjust it or something? I don't really have tools for getting the car up.

Since others posted they were able to adjust with the tail light to prevent rubbing I am pretty sure the dealer can adjust it or you can take out the trunk liner urself and loosen the tailight and adjust. Check out the DIY for rear foglamp on how to get to the tail light. Its quite a bit of work but not a huge deal. I've done it three times already.

mantella87 · 12-13-2011, 10:17 PM

I've noticed it too, in multiple spots when washing my car. Same with my RX-8. I'm not worried about it.

brucelidat · 12-13-2011, 10:42 PM

I'm not worried about it as a big deal, but it is a little annoying so if I could have the dealer adjust it and make it go away easily, I'd do it. Just wasn't sure if there was something they could do or if its just normal body panel flex or poor tolerances in manufacturing or something.

brucelidat · 12-14-2011, 04:24 PM

listening it to more closely, I think it does sound like it's the styrofoam underneath probably

kenchan · 12-14-2011, 04:38 PM

yah, it could be. just stick your head under the rear bumper and look up. no need to raise the car... well, unless you gotz a pumpkin head.

brucelidat · 12-14-2011, 04:39 PM

oh, ok, I didn't know I could check just form looking under. What am I looking for? Is there supposed to be something between the styrofoam and the bumper?

kenchan · 12-14-2011, 04:43 PM

you should be able to see the styrofoam (it's just a box shaped rectangle) and just push it with a ruler or wat not to see if it's the source. if it is, push a piece of hard felt between the foam and the bumper/frame.

if you're willing to do the rear fog lamp you'll need to take off the tail lamp anyway so it would help you kill a few birds with one stone. like add rear view camera, spray paint the amber turn signal silver so you rid the egg yoke color some folks hate, etc. and fix the squeak. it shouldn't squeak at all.

12-12-2011, 07:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
brucelidat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: temple city, ca Posts: 2,432 Drives: 2011 370z 7AT GM Sp Rep Power: 31	rear left bumper squeak So when washing my car or just leaning on it in general sometimes with my hand when I am getting something out of the hatch, I hear it squeak in the area where the bumper meets the rear driver side tail light. It doesn't happen on the other side, though. The bumper edge where it meets the taillight also seems to flex more and have more space between parts than the other side. Is this normal or do I have some fitment/quality issues? __________________ Works Emotion CR Ultimate - FI CBE w/ 18" resonators - Ecutek - eibach sways - Quaife - FI LTH w/race cats - kw v3 - spl - Topgunz SC - 488whp 398trq

12-12-2011, 08:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
brucelidat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: temple city, ca Posts: 2,432 Drives: 2011 370z 7AT GM Sp Rep Power: 31	If the spacing doesn't seem even with the spacing on the other side where the bumper meets the passenger side taillight, could I take ti tot he dealer and just have them adjust it or something? I don't really have tools for getting the car up. __________________ Works Emotion CR Ultimate - FI CBE w/ 18" resonators - Ecutek - eibach sways - Quaife - FI LTH w/race cats - kw v3 - spl - Topgunz SC - 488whp 398trq

12-12-2011, 10:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
AlexRaymond19 Track Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Maine Posts: 771 Drives: 2010 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 15	The flex is normal... Mine does it too. Pretty annoying if you ask me. Anyway, no idea what the sound is __________________ 2010 370Z Touring MT \| Stillen \| Motordyne \| Momentum\| Z1 \| Fast Intentions \| Advant Garde \| RE11 \| Swift \| SPC \| Quaife \| Whiteline \| Evo R \| 322RWHP 259ft-lb Mustang

12-12-2011, 10:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
zero A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,259 Drives: MK 7.5 Golf R Rep Power: 23	After installing the JDM tail lights, I had a squeak sound on passager side tail light. I re-installed and adjusted the tail light and now it's gone. __________________

12-13-2011, 10:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
brucelidat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: temple city, ca Posts: 2,432 Drives: 2011 370z 7AT GM Sp Rep Power: 31	I'm not worried about it as a big deal, but it is a little annoying so if I could have the dealer adjust it and make it go away easily, I'd do it. Just wasn't sure if there was something they could do or if its just normal body panel flex or poor tolerances in manufacturing or something. __________________ Works Emotion CR Ultimate - FI CBE w/ 18" resonators - Ecutek - eibach sways - Quaife - FI LTH w/race cats - kw v3 - spl - Topgunz SC - 488whp 398trq

12-12-2011, 07:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	Its not normal, but try applying a thin layer of white lithium grease in the nook. Also check from under the rear bumper as it could be the styrofoam making the noise.

12-13-2011, 02:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
KillerBee370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: So Cal baby! Age: 51 Posts: 5,964 Drives: with passion Rep Power: 321	It's called plastic on plastic. Nothing wrong here. I've got it on the starboard side of the killerbee. Plastic bumber rubbing on plastic taillight. Nothing to see here folks... move along.

12-13-2011, 10:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
mantella87 Track Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 590 Drives: 2011 Z34 MT Rep Power: 15	I've noticed it too, in multiple spots when washing my car. Same with my RX-8. I'm not worried about it.

12-14-2011, 04:24 PM	#10 (permalink)
brucelidat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: temple city, ca Posts: 2,432 Drives: 2011 370z 7AT GM Sp Rep Power: 31	listening it to more closely, I think it does sound like it's the styrofoam underneath probably __________________ Works Emotion CR Ultimate - FI CBE w/ 18" resonators - Ecutek - eibach sways - Quaife - FI LTH w/race cats - kw v3 - spl - Topgunz SC - 488whp 398trq

12-14-2011, 04:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	yah, it could be. just stick your head under the rear bumper and look up. no need to raise the car... well, unless you gotz a pumpkin head.

12-14-2011, 04:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
brucelidat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: temple city, ca Posts: 2,432 Drives: 2011 370z 7AT GM Sp Rep Power: 31	oh, ok, I didn't know I could check just form looking under. What am I looking for? Is there supposed to be something between the styrofoam and the bumper? __________________ Works Emotion CR Ultimate - FI CBE w/ 18" resonators - Ecutek - eibach sways - Quaife - FI LTH w/race cats - kw v3 - spl - Topgunz SC - 488whp 398trq

12-14-2011, 04:43 PM	#13 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	you should be able to see the styrofoam (it's just a box shaped rectangle) and just push it with a ruler or wat not to see if it's the source. if it is, push a piece of hard felt between the foam and the bumper/frame. if you're willing to do the rear fog lamp you'll need to take off the tail lamp anyway so it would help you kill a few birds with one stone. like add rear view camera, spray paint the amber turn signal silver so you rid the egg yoke color some folks hate, etc. and fix the squeak. it shouldn't squeak at all.

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