Creaking/groaning from rear brakes or suspension

[RussJ]

Just got back from a short break in Cornwall and noticed that there was a creaking/rattling noise from the rear which could be heard when driving down the high walled lanes  - presumably the walls reflect the sound. Can't hear anything untoward from inside the car
When I parked up with handbrake on, I could make a similar graunching noise occur by rocking the car, pulling on the roof rails. Sometimes just getting out of the car will make the noise.
Not sure if its brake or suspension related - I have the full  Hirsch set up, now 50k old.
Exhaust is fine as far as I can see (Abbott stainless steel).
Any ideas as to what might be the cause?
Russ

[sgould]

Can't help with the source.  But my 9-5 has groaned when I get in and out for the 60,000 miles I have had it.  Doesn't seem to get any better or worse.  I don't think it's the Hirsch stuff as it was doing it before the suspension upgrade.

I suspect the rear bushes.  But I have no rattle, that could be the bush that's pressed into the arm with the special tool.  They do wear.

[RussJ]

I know the garage replaced the main trailing arm bushes when they fitted the Hirsch kit, so I'm hoping they'll still be OK.
I wonder if it could be either the ARB bushes or links or possibly the rose bushes?
Might try spraying some WD40 around and see if the noise goes away...

[Finbo]

Do you only hear the noise when the handbrake's on? I only ask as I was told that a noise I had was down to the handbrake shoes when applied. I too could rock the car via the roof rails and you could clearly hear the noise. Try it with the car in gear, but no handbrake on and see what happens.

[RussJ]

"Do you only hear the noise when the handbrake's on? I only ask as I was told that a noise I had was down to the handbrake shoes when applied. I too could rock the car via the roof rails and you could clearly hear the noise. Try it with the car in gear, but no handbrake on and see what happens."

Actually, I tested exactly that last night!
The noise only happens when the handbrake is applied.
If I try rocking the ar without the brake on, no noise at all.
Did the garage imply that there was something wrong with the handbrake or that this noise was normal?
Russ

[TomPaine]

Ah, the 9-5 handbrake. Definitely one of its weak points, seems to require constant adjustment. And mine kept locking on solid last winter, which has never happened in other car. Personally I never apply mine unless it's absolutely necessary, and in my use it rarely is.

Not much help if one lives in Snowdonia, I appreciate. But many habitually jam the handbrake on, whenever parked etc, even on a flat drive, and with a 9-5 it's worth considering not doing so to reduce its wear and tear.

[sgould]

When moving at walking pace, pull up the handbrake.  Most times you will hear a loud clunk. There's some movement in there which must be sprung or something.

When I pull on the handbrake while stopped on the hill outside my house with the footbrake applied, the car rolls downhill a short distance when I release the footbrake as some slack is used up. So the handbrake must be "floating" somehow by  design.

I've never had to have the handbrake adjusted outside of a service, when it may or may not have needed doing. Just not something I've noticed.  Is one of the cables fraying?  Or seized?

[Norfolk Jim]

Russ - I used to have that on my older 9-5 SE estate and more recently on my auto aero (sadly gone now).

In the aero it was only when the handbrake was applied. You get out and hear the groan. If you just leave it in Park and don't apply handbrake it never does it.

As sgould says if you apply whilst driving along you often get a loud clonk as normally its floating. On my old 9-5 the handbrake shoes looked nearly new but had never been changed. They do age though.

[Finbo]

I was told there was nothing to worry about. It's just the noise of the handbrake shoes holding the brake in place, that's all.

[collywobble]

I would agree that it's the handbrake that causes this noise. There would always be groan/clonk from the rear of our 9-5 estate when going over the kerb between our drive and the pavement.

Since having new rear discs, pads and handbrake shoes the noise has disappeared completely.