Strange Noise (maybe torsion bar)

[TRIPLE-GREEN]

I have been daily driving my 73 challenger for 2 years now with little issue. I have noticed over time I have been getting a little noise out of the suspention on the passenger side. Within the last 2-3 days as the weather has gotten colder I have heard it a lot more as I drive it. It sounds like a creek or metalic moan coming from the passengers side floor at the kick panel. It happonds at lower speed alot more the higher and it clearly happonds randomly as the suspention is in travel (Speed bump or body lean on left hand turns). Can any one help me trouble shoot the issue? It sounds like something to do with the torsion bar (At the crossmember) but I don't know much about them. The car has had new bushings within the last 5-6 years. But I don't know if anything was done to the torsion bars. 

[NoMope Greg]

The torsion bars are solid mounts - no bushings, just grease in the rear - so it's unlikely the source of your sound is there.  It's more likely from the bushings in the control arms, transmitting into the body structure.  You say the bushings were replaced 6 years ago, but do you know about the quality of the bushings?  Is the car parked outside?  The bushings will get hard and shrink with age and a groaning noise in colder weather is not uncommon.  How many pickups and old cars do you hear creaking down the road in the winter?  Another possibility is a ball joint or tie-rod end calling out for a good lube.  In these days of sealed joints, lubing the joints on an older car is often overlooked.

[TRIPLE-GREEN]

From lock to lock I am not getting any unusual noise (Turn the wheel) only when the car goes over a bump or that side is loaded up (over a good size bump). Would that still be a ball joint? I would think it would make noise as I turned it too.  I am new to this as everyone knows so I am just asking!! 

[Chryco Psycho]

most likely dry bushings , by the time a ball joint or T bar makes noise you would know about it

[TRIPLE-GREEN]

Does that mean that if I lube the suspention it would fix the noise. (MAYBE) or does this mean I have to replace all together. 

[NoMope Greg]

If you've never lubed it and you don't know when it was last done, it certainly can't hurt.  There are no lube provisions on the bushings, only the ball joints, tie rod ends, pitman arm and drag link.  If the noise doesn't go away, then you might try squirting the bushings with some spray lubrication - WD-40, silicone spray or graphite - I'm not sure which would be best.  Even then, there's no guarantee, since the lubricant would have to work it's way in between the bushing and the control arm.  BTW - can you get the car to make the sound when it sitting still by bouncing the corner or turning the wheel? 

[Moparal]

If the ecentric bolts are not real tight on the upper control arms, they will make noise. Just ask sqeaky,  I mean Sleepychallenger

[Chryco Psycho]

I would try a penetrating oil , far better than WD40 which does virtually nothing 

[72bluNblu]

Not to be an alarmist, but when you're under there take a look at the frame too. Metallic creaking noises can also be made by frame damage (cracks, rust, etc..). Not as likely as the other stuff though, probably more like worn out bushings. Just because they're only 6 years old doesn't mean they aren't bad, factory stuff lasts a lot longer than aftermarket rubber parts from overseas, and if the car has been sitting the rubber may have rotted. Also, it may happen just as much at higher speeds, you just might not be able to hear it. Classic cars like ours tend to get noisier as they go faster (wind, engine rpm, other rattles) and can mask the unusual sound you're looking for. Happened to me more than once!

[Kapteenikosmos]

Someone correct me if I am wrong. As far as I know the rubber suspension bushings have little resistance against oil so if you use normal mineral oil based stuff on those, it will deteriorate the bushings fast. I would advice that you use rattle can silicon on the actual rubber bushings, if the noise is coming from those.