Squeeky Rear Wheel Area --HELP!

Hi, i have a squeek coming from the passenger rear wheel on my 323i SE E46 1999.

I thought it was the shocker at first so i replaced that - still there.
Then i put it through the MOT and they said the rear Near Side (UK) spring was fractured - i replaced it and the squeek is still there.

The sound is more prominant when the car rocks in the lower gears. when i change gear or the car rocks (back & forth) there is a squeek, squeek sound from the NS rear.

Does anyone have any thoughts on what it could be?

I have also replaced the breaks too and the sound is still there.

From what i can gather it could be the bearings, but i don't think that is the problem as i didn't notice any play when i changed the brakes, but don't quote me on that. Could it be the rear e-brakes, though if it was that then the sound would be there all the time.
The only other reason i can think of is one of the suspension joints. I am not very Knowledgeable about this, I can change the brakes, and other problems on the same level, but this is out of my experiance.

To recap, the squeek is quite load. I can only really hear it at low speeds and it happens when the car rocks back & forth (when changing low gears and if i brake and the car rocks.) Not when it leans from left & right.

PLEASE HELP as it is driving me crazy.

Thanks

Could be a worn out bushing or something. I have also heard issues with the rear sub frame cracking so I don't know if that could be what is calling it.

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"Could be a worn out bushing or something. I have also heard issues with the rear sub frame cracking so I don't know if that could be what is calling it."
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Hi, thanks for the reply. Im not sure what you mean by the `brushings` and the `sub frame`. Could you (or anyone else) post some photos so i know what to look for.
Also if anyone has other ideas could you post photos for what you mean if possible, as i am not really up on all the part names. I am a intermidiate DIY`er, but i have never worked on the suspension on a Bemmer (only on a VW Beetle).

Thanks.

Gaz.
Also,
*The 323i has only done 53,000 miles.
*The noise has been there for about 2 months in total gradually getting worse.

When my subframe was torn my car would squeek if i just closed the trunk ....

HI, i just went for a drive and i couldn't tell if the noise was coming from the NSR wheel or from the center of the car at the rear.

Could anyone tell me what the alternatives would be if the noise was in the center?

Many Thanks
Gaz.

HI, i have just been for a short drive and i now think that the noise is coming from the center of the car at the rear, though i can't tell 100% whilst driving. The noise happens when i change gear in 1st & 2nd and when the car rocks back & forth, but not when i brake or turn corners.
If i drive and keep dabbing the accellerator on/off making the car jerk the noise is there too. Also when i change gear it feels a little like the car jerks a bit.

I take it that it is some kind of brushing or something similar and not something really bad.. Can anyone help me to pin the noise down.
The noise is really getting on my nerves and sounds horrible.
+ i hope it is something that i can fix myself.
Thanks
Gaz.

Probably the Diff bushings

RTAB.. /thread

Hi,
My 233i has the same squeak noise from the rear wheels when travelling slowly (disappears at higher speeds). I have read here that it is the handbrake mechanism in the rear wheels. It is a common problem from what I believe in E46's. Handbrake squeak !!

There are quite a few DIY's and posts on the subject here. Some really good...just that I've been so busy with work I haven't had the time to fix it. I believe it's a simple job. Something to do with the tension on the handbrake cable.

Cheers

Colin

If it is at the rear end the I'd check the "rear differential bushing" also. It's the round bushing(mount) that the differential bolts through at the very rear.

since you are new and not familiar with parts and location. use the Search function here on the forum and look some of the items up. you can also go to the DIY section of the site and look the names up there and it'll show you how to fix many of these items.

Hi,

There are DIY's here on this forum on repairing/adjusting out the rear wheel squeak from the E-brake or handbrak as it is called here in Oz !!

As I said, I've been to busy to get it adjusted to date.

Colin

Hi, bad news. I have just had the 323 on ramps so i could get a good look underneith and it's the rear subframe mounting ( driver side rear bush).
It's not the actual subframe, but where the rear driver side bush connects to the floor of the car. There is a gap where the bush mounting has broken.

I have seen this somewhere before on this forum (or another) and i understand that it needs to be re-enforced and welded to fix it. This obviously needs the subframe and the rear diff taken off to complete the job.
Does anyone know how much this job will cost (in the UK). I live in Doncaster, S Yorks.

I am on a budget so a dealer is out of the question, but i get all me parts that are ok from a german car breakers and he also has a garage too, so i think he is the best bet to fix it as he is around german cars alot.

anyhelp on cost, parts needed would be a great help.
Thanks

the ebrake is wearing out causing the squeek

Yeah i think it is your rear subframe i had the same issue THAT SUCKS MAN