Creak From Drivers Door

[copycutter]

I've had this creak for 6 months since I bought the car and it's really beginning to sh!t me now.

I've gone this whole time thinking it's suspension related. Only this week I've discovered after consulting with two suspension workshops that this is not the case despite replacing bushes, re-greasing others etc.

Anyway...

When the front right suspension articulates driving up curbs etc, and also when starting and stopping at carpark speeds the front right of the car makes a pronounced creeeeaakkk sound. Only just this week I found we can replicate the sound without the car moving by lifting the drivers door up and down at the end of it while it's open, but can't exactly tell where the sound is coming from. I'd say the driver door may have a little more play than the passenger door, but I'm surprised that if it's door related that driving up a curb would make it sound like that. Is it normal for a door to move at all while the car is being driven about if the door is what's generating the noise?

I've tried searching on a write up on how to remove a door from an r33 but no luck other than removing door trim.

Has anyone had experience with this kind of problem or removing a door and how to go about troubleshooting this kind of problem?

If not, am I best to speak to a panel beater, assuming they pull cars apart all the time?

[Got a Pulsar]

If I were you, I'd try applying some kinda lubricant to various areas, one at a time until you pin point the issue.

i.e. put some silicon spray on the door seals, if still squeaky, apply to hinges etc.

I had a groan in mine which I thought was suspension related. Turned out to be the bonnet creaking on the rubber stopper dealies on either side at the front.

I tightened the bonnet hinges and put some sticky backed rubber cushion thingos on the stoppers and shhhhhhhhhhh.

Noise gone.

Does it stop it's when raining? (only in the dry?) or all the time?

Edited December 15, 2011 by Not a Pulsar

[copycutter]

The guy at the 2nd suspension shop sprayed spray grease on the door hinge itself with no effect and it doesn't go away with rain. If anything you notice it more because the windows are up and its quieter.

I'll get my house mate to work the door while I try and pinpoint it but I think the play in the door might be part of the reason why. Do you know how to tighten it onto the car?

[EJD001]

u could find it is the check strap, it bolts to the door and onto the body of the car.

we replace these alot with toyota, so it could be a issue with yours?

[copycutter]

Hi Mick,

One of the body shops I went to said this may be the case, that the bolts that hold the door hinge to the car may be loose/snapped. However both body shops could not quote me on fixing and were both super unsure about any sort of cost, and eventually said "I'd try to find the noise myself" which I have done and clearly lack the expertise to find it.

[EJD001]

u have PM

[Shuyin]

I've got the exact same problem with my R33 GTR. God the noise is driving me insane!

[copycutter]

Thanks for PM EDJ001 - not certain it is the check strap yet but will let you know

I've had a 3rd and 4th opinion on the dreaded creak, and apprarently my car has been in a side on accident at some point (like finding out your car has cancer) and the creak seems to be from the door sill in their opinion. The fix is apparently rip that side of the car apart and start welding things to stop what is a "metal on metal" noise.

I'm going to get some preliminary prices on doing that and see what the cost is.

[D.I.Y. Mik]

I got it on my old 32, im going to look at all those suggestions tomorrow.

but it makes me think about all the bits that bolt together in that area that would be affected by movement, like the guards, side skirts, maybe a metal brake line or something small.

Also gotta remember these cars are lightly built; try to jack it from the fake chassis rail and watch it bend.

So your suggestion about cracks makes me worry. Sometimes spot welds can break easy too.

How is the underside of your car? mines a bit rough.

I hope mines a squeaky bonnet. That sounds the easiest to fix.

[copycutter]

Going in on 9th for the fix. I'll let you now what the cost is when I pick it up.

[Nanogrip]

Creaks? I used a lot of stuff, from lithium to silicone, worst was molybdenum (wtf was I thinking?) . What works best for me is graphite, spray or grease, so it is another option to try out for those who have door creaks.

[copycutter]

It turned out to be the sill underneath the car, where you jack it up. It was all crushed flat instead of a raised straight thing.

The panel beater straightened it with big vice grips (he said they normally should be much firmer than that) and then mig welded it all in correct position and the noise seems to be gone.

Can't say exactly how much this part of the fix equated to since I was having the bonnet and front bumper resprayed and roof lining re-fitted at the rear but the total was around $1250.

Much happier now.