Well my coupe’s been making a strange metallic squeaking noise for the last few weeks, which seems to be more noticeable on bumpy roads, and when the car is warm after a few miles.

So booked it into the garage on Tuesday for a diagnosis and they told me I needed a new front shock. Made sense I thought. So last night after work happily parted with £260 for two new shocks, picked up the coupe and looked forward to the sound of “coupe silence” on my journey home.

Except when I was almost home then the noise started again – same bl**dy squeaking!!

Now I’m a little annoyed that I’ve shelled out for two shocks that obviously were not the route of the problem, and I’m going to phone the garage today and re-book it in. But should I be annoyed with them that I’ve spent a load of money unnecessarily – or should I just right it off as a quirk of Coupe ownership experience?

I'd be annoyed but a couple of questions: what miles has the car done, were the shocks original and did you notice any difference with the handling after the new shocks were on?

It's possible that you needed them anyway.

I'd be looking at the spring collar at the bottom of the spring first. It can take a bit of time to bed in, spray some silicon in there to see if it goes quiet.

Thanks - Carlt will probably slate me for saying this but the coupe's a "late low mileage example" having just turned 40K miles on a 'V' plate. Its been religiously looked after though!

There was no noticeable difference in handling once the new shocks were on. Will try the silicone though

I had the same thing but it was due a suspension rebuild anyway (wishbones, drop links, track rod ends, top mounts etc). Still squeaked afterwards but turned out to be the balljoint shield behind the brake disc I believe.

Low mileage?

Oh and this garage isnt james twist again is it?

Yes it is - how did you guess?

Sprayed silicone everywhere last night but it still did'nt kill the mouse.

I'm getting the same squeak when I turn the steering wheel left and right at a standstill which is louder outside the car than inside.

Girlfriend now has arms like Popeye after I spent the evening with my head under the front of the car with the engine off trying to work out where the mouse is living, and all the time barking instructions at her - left again, right again - no left, right, come on right, etc, etc.

She's very understanding!

Because only 2 or 3 weeks ago they charged nearly 1k for full suspension renewal to solve the same fault and it took someone to spot it was only the ball joint heat shields shot!

10 minute fix.

Really? - would that cause the same squeaking noise - which gets worse by the way when the car is warm?

Bug**rs! - would have taken it to Motormech, but really busy at work at the mo which means taking a day off for a trip to Brum is a no-no.

Without wanting to turn this into a technical post how would I check this myself?

I had the same fault on mine, seemed to be when warm, but not logical really.

Could be something like the n/s box mounting, but either way if you spend to fix a problem and it doesn't you shouldn't be paying.

Hmmm - already phoned them thismorning to tell them the problem is still there and they said the shocks would have needed doing anyway (one leaking aparently).

They would say this though!

Thanks for all your help Carl - much appreciated!