E86 roof creaking! Solved!!

J

JimBob78

Member
This is really getting on my tits... Randomly started a month or so ago, a really loud creak whenever the chassis flexes coming from above and behind me. Pulled out pretty much all the trim in the back and still can't find the cause! Not sure if it's metal or plastic creaking... Anyone got any suggestions for obvious places to check?

Finally got round to pulling down the headlining on the off chance there was something there causing the creak and guess what rolled out?! One of the bloody bolts that holds the roof on! Screwed it back on and checked the otheres, one of which was loose, no more creaking!! I'm feeling pretty smug :D
Worth checking these if you have a coupe.

Cheers
 
My tailgate lining trim creaks - could it be that? Worse if the load cover isn’t hooked in. I’ve replaced some missing clips and jammed some thin foam in places to try to stop it but it still creaks!

Chris
 
Have you looked at the rear springs. If one has broken and the flat /final coil is missing the spring now ends in a 'spike' shape. These move under flexing (and as you say) and the body twist/shudder is often noticeable in the sunroof / roof mechanism of the car.
 
So it's possible that the sound is transferred through the body? I've not checked them for a while so will have look, cheers
I've taken all the trim off the tailgate to no avail, sounds like it's under the roof lining, is there a brace under there possibly?
 
JimBob78 said:
So it's possible that the sound is transferred through the body? I've not checked them for a while so will have look, cheers
I've taken all the trim off the tailgate to no avail, sounds like it's under the roof lining, is there a brace under there possibly?
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Last car I found this on was a Clio the sunroof creaked and clicked nonstop. Found both front springs had cracked and lost the final flat turn. Changed the springs and nothing - no noise at all. Since the Zed is known for cracking rear springs I suggest that this is a good place to start. The rears are under the roof area and vibrations are transferred through the bodywork - I'm not saying this is the reason but its worth ruling it out. Never had the problem myself - well mine is a roadster :thumbsup:

Think there was a thread about the seat bases creaking a couple of months ago.
 
If you have the driver’s seat all the way back, it frets on the bulkhead causing an annoying creak. SIt it up or slide it forwards slightly and see if the sounds stops.
Also, check the bolts holding the cross braces from the strut towers to the front bulkhead haven’t loosened. These can cause creaking too (although you would expect to hear that from in front of you).
 
How easy is it to take out the headlining? Did you take it all out or just drop the rear down for access to the bolts?
 
adam1985 said:
How easy is it to take out the headlining? Did you take it all out or just drop the rear down for access to the bolts?
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This might assist.

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=906224
 
dgm said:
This might assist.

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=906224
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Thanks for the reply, looks like it isnt a 5 minute job! Any idea what torque the bolts should be?
 
It's not really a 5 min job but no more than 30. I didn't fully remove it, just pulled it down enough to get access, not sure what the torque values are, it's not really structural anyway, just went as tight as poss with a mini ratchet.
 
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