squeak detection equipment...

[zman]

Hey all,



I have a couple of VERY annoying squeaks that I have been chasing for several months with no luck, so I'm to the point of purchasing some squeak detection equipment. The one that looks most interesting is the Steelman ChassisEar Squeak and Rattle Finder. It has six different mics that can be placed and checked one at at time while the vehicle is moving. I've been able to find this for around $105. Has anyone ever used anything like this? Do they work? Are there other/better options? Thanks guys!



Steve



#ad

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Steve, Before dumpin the sa$h for a seeker where abouts is the squeak coming from? Dash area drivers side ? under seat ? where?

 

[kluther]

i use them almost weekly,dealer tech. for squeaks and rattles they work well. use them in the noise area,selecting the color coordinated clips to find where it is more pronounced. the relocate them closer together as you narrow it down. ken

 

[zman]

TMTT -



I've searched this site from top to bottom researching the various squeaks and fixes (and have tried them all) but I haven't been able to kill out the most recent squeaks/rattles.



One of the squeaks sounds like it is coming from below the dash on the driver's side. I had a squeak that sounded EXACTLY like this one about 6 months ago and it turned out the be the steering column. I re-doused the column (in and out) with WD-40 like I did last time, but it didn't take care of the squeak this time. I've spent about 15 hours looking for it already. The squeak is very prevalent at very slow speeds (though can be heard at higher speeds) and is very fast paced and high pitched. It can be heard when hitting the slightest irregularities in the road and at speeds as low as 5 MPH. (BTW, I had the TSB done for the dash squeak, but it didn't fix the problem).



The other noise I'm hearing is kind of like a high pitched rattle/vibration that seems to be located in the dash somewhere between the steering column and radio. I've had the lower dash panel and the radio out, zip-tied all the wiring, and still can't find anything that looks suspect. This vibration seems to come and go, but is more prevalent in cooler temperatures.



I figure that $100 is cheap if I can fix these (and future) squeaks w/o spending hours and hours looking for the problem.





Ken -



Thanks for the feedback on the equipment. Given the amount of time I've spent on finding both past and present squeaks and knowing that there will be more in the future, I think I'll pull the trigger on this thing.



Who knows, this may be THE tool to easilly track down all of the squeaks and rattles associated with these trucks - at least I hope so. You know it's pretty bad when you can hear the squeaks and rattles over the Cummins!



I'll report back after I have a chance to use it.



Steve

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Old TSB on this Give it a whirl

That sounds like the Spot Weld issue!

Originally posted by RAndrae

I chased this squeek for a long time see my first post. A pinch weld is like a duck beak welded together like the one that runs under the doors on the cab. half inch of metal that is then spot welded. The one that was sqeeking is where several pieces of metal all come together at the lower portion of the cab and then are all spot welded together. the cab flexes and sqeekes.



If you open the hood and then look down that cavity between the fender and cab where the hood spring is. you will see a 14 16 inch pinch weld like the one on the cab under the doors running perpindicular to the ground. The punch idea is to re pinch or kink the metal so it wont move. With a long punch you can only hit the first 3-5 inches. You need to get a bend bar, open the door and go in from the outside (right next to the 2500/ cum turb diesel plaq and hit that weld. Also I took the kike panel off and punched way up in there on the other side of that weld. I spent 20 minutes. Oh yeah wrap that bar when you on the outside.

TSB:



23-19-00 All Instrument panel creak.

A creak or squeak may be present near the left and/or right side(s) of the instrument panel. The noise is caused by the sheet metal joint between the A-pillar and the dash panel plenum lower rubbing together. The repair involves loosening that instrument panel and providing additional clearance between the A-pillar inner panel and dash panel.

 

[zman]

it works!!! squeak found and killed!!!

The squeak detection equipment was waiting on my door step when I got home last night. It is actually pretty decent quality. The kit includes six microphones mounted on clamps each with about 10-12' of wire. Each wire runs back to a selector box so you can listen to each mic one at a time. It also comes with a set of headphones and a plastic storage case.



I decided to hook it up last night and give it a try. I put each of the six mics in various places that were known to cause squeaks - along the steering column under the hood and in the cab, down in the pocket between the inner and outer fender (just in front of the drivers door), by the drivers side kick panel, and under the dash to the right of the steering column. After going for a short drive, I was able to pick up the squeak from the mic that was between the inner and outer fender well on the drivers side. The first thing I thought was that the pinch-welds mentioned above had failed. I brought the truck back home and popped the hood to take a good look down in the the cavity and noticed something out of place - it was that foam soundstop piece. It had worked loose and fallen to the bottom of the cavity. I figured that there was a slight chance that the foam was the source of the noise, so I put the foam back in place and went for another drive. You're not going to believe this, but it was the foam piece that was squeaking!!!!!! The squeak is completely gone!!!!!



So 10 minutes and $100 later, I found and killed the squeak after chasing it for almost 2 months. This thing was worth every penny and I'd highly recommend it. I'm guessing I'll have plenty more opportunities to use this thing as I track down the inevitable squeaks and rattles that will appear over the years... .



Steve

 

[wes reeves]

Originally posted by zman



One of the squeaks sounds like it is coming from below the dash on the driver's side. I had a squeak that sounded EXACTLY like this one about 6 months ago and it turned out the be the steering column. I re-doused the column (in and out) with WD-40 like I did last time, but it didn't take care of the squeak this time. I've spent about 15 hours looking for it already. The squeak is very prevalent at very slow speeds (though can be heard at higher speeds) and is very fast paced and high pitched. It can be heard when hitting the slightest irregularities in the road and at speeds as low as 5 MPH. (BTW, I had the TSB done for the dash squeak, but it didn't fix the problem).

Although you've already solved your problem maybe someone else will benefit from this.



I had a squeak with all the same symptoms on my truck. I finally got someone else to bounce on the front of the truck while I listened. The squeak was coming from the bottom of the right front fender just behing the tire. The fender is cracked right there and I guess it flexes going over small bumps just enough to make an annoying squeaking noise. I should have a picture of the crack tomorrow to post on here. #ad




The crack didnt show up very well in the picture so I tried to draw in where it is.

 

[Texas Diesel]

I had a squeak with all the same symptoms on my truck. I finally got someone else to bounce on the front of the truck while I listened. The squeak was coming from the bottom of the right front fender just behing the tire. The fender is cracked right there and I guess it flexes going over small bumps just enough to make an annoying squeaking noise. I should have a picture of the crack tomorrow to post on here. [/QUOTE]



Thats a common problem, I had it on both sides. Press on the fender below the hood hinges. There is a seam inside the fender that has 3 layers of metal. I was told the robot welders are/were set to weld 2 layers This afflicts MUCHO trucks. There are two fixes, one ease one HARD.



I had the A-pillar TSB done twice. New door (spot welds cracked), new rear seat mounts (bolt cross threaded) etc etc Chrysler spent a lot of money fixing their sloppy assembly work.



I know it's time to change my engine oil when the steering shaft starts singing to me. How thoughtful of DC to put an oil change needed alert squeak :-laf I'm thinking about installing a drip oiler for the steering shaft



Glad I'm not the only one who hates squeaks and rattles and buzzes and thumps.

 

[wes reeves]

I just put a link to the picture of my cracked fender in my earlier post.



What's the most efficient way to fix this crack?

 

[Philip]

What's the most efficient way to fix this crack?

Gas weld or mig weld. Then cleanup and repaint as needed.

 

[Texas Diesel]

Anyone know where to buy this tool?

 

[Texas Diesel]

How did you do the Google search? What did you enter? My Google search only turned up the manufacturer, and they want $169, I'm trying to find the $105 he found. TIA

 

[Texas Diesel]

Thats the ticket!! Ordered one for $122