Rear Passenger Side shock squeaking/rubbing noise

Is there a very noticeable difference between the setting for the adjustable suspension(is it still working)?
Looking the photos and listening to the sound, it seems like 1 of 3 things:

-verify the top of the shock shaft is tightly secured the the mount(there's a nut that holds the assembly together located underneath the rear speaker inside the car..look you'll see it after popping the rubber cap off it)

-The shocks are wasted/worn out and eons ago, the leaked their fluid out..now they are needing replacement…the tell tale signs of oil running down the sides of the shock from the center shaft seals leaking are well gone/it happened a long time ago.

-You have dry rotted control arm bushings or lower shock bushing that is the squeak, not the actual shock.

Thanks for the ideas, I didn't think about playing with the adjustment levels on the suspension to see if the noise changes.

The adjustment does have some effect in road handling, but I'm sure not what it used to be.

When I got the car in March I played around with them, repeatedly driving slowly over a speed bump in a parking lot on each setting and trying to judge the variance. There did seem to be a change between S N F. Then on the freeway, firm would be a bit harsh, neutral a good balance and soft would get very loose and bouncy.

Since then, I've just kept it at neutral, so I'll play with that on my ride home and see if it changes the noise.

I'll take a look for the top mount too.

I don't think they've blown out but I'm sure they are weaker then they used to be. If I hit a good bump or two, it holds its own, but if I hit several in a row it can get the body bouncing where its having problems dampening the rebound.

I suppose a bushing being worn down would make sense with the noise. I want to do poly all around but was waiting till I was ready to replace the suspensions as I figured it is easier to do at the same time. Also, I've heard there are Prothane supply issues right now, haven't checked myself though.

I was hoping it was more of a rubbing of the shaft of the shock in its housing and someone would be like "oh yeah, that happens over time, you are supposed to lube them up with Suspension Lubricant very 50,000 miles"

Another thing..I might have assumed you knew…but the dust cover is usually retained at the top of the shock shaft along with the top shock mount. Its job is to help keep water/dirt off from the actual shaft to the shock, which wears out the shaft seal(creating a leaky shock).
If that is just "Floating around there and not staying at the top, then maybe thats the noise.
Dan

Yeah, the dust cover is mobile.

I pushed it down in that one photo by hand to get a picture past it.

When I moved it around, it didn't make the noise and I also pushed on the suspension with the dust cover half way down the shaft where it wouldn't get moved and the noise still occurred.

Also, when I compared to my drivers side suspension, that side has completely lost its dust cover but doesn't seem to have been negatively affected. I checked the gap between the tire and fender at rest between the two sides and they matched, so either they are both good or both blown yet I'm only getting noise out of the one side.

Does anyone have an approximate gap that I could compare for an 84 AE with stock tire size and stock suspension?

Come back here Turkey..you are getting way off track.
:lol:
The ride height is having to do with the springs..they do sag over time and they do loose some spring rate(not as stiff) as the age. There is also a very slim chance that the upper spring rubber insulator or worn out lower spring insulator is creating this sound to..you just need to inspect things better.

*But back to the matter at hand..a squeak sound. Inspect the things I mentioned then report back..prolly best to have a helper when you do this.
Dan

It seems too easy but I went ahead and sprayed some WD40 into the opening that the dust cover covers up and for the short drive after, the noise went away.

Going to keep monitoring it and will report back.

The WD40 is still holding up after a "spirited" driving session with my fellow Z Club of Texas members and other running around town.