406oc.co.uk

From inside the car there is what sounds like a knocking noise from o/s/r.
Outside it's more of a creak, so got car up in the air with wheel of and jacked the hub. As it compresses, it feels a bit sticky, as it moves past the sticky bit it creaks.
I did get a pry bar and check for play on every link/arm but found nothing. Prime suspect at the moment is the shock, although can see no damage when fully extended.

To rule out the shock was going to remove it and take for a drive - if quiet then know that is it. Is it as simple as undoing top and bottom to remove?

Otherwise are they any other bits to check, given the lack of play, or is this meaningless?

Shock is fine, took off and still get the creak.

ARB is solid, can't get a noise even hanging off it and ragging it about (technical term).

Today went to undo each link / bush one by one to work it out and the noise has virtually gone.
Now is a tiny tiny creak. All I did was spray a penetrating oil over all the joints last weekend ready to undo.

It was a lot hotter the other weekend so took the car out for 10 mins to warm through, even then only left with a slight noise (cannot hear inside the car at all, only outside now).

Worth replacing the top links at this age as a matter of course then deal with as it gets worse?

Came back with a vengeance, creaking over the tiniest imperfections in the road and can feel it through the floorpan.

Ordered a set of rear links as no evidence they have ever been done, my local motor factors reckon it's the only bit of rear suspension they have ever sold - and they supplied all the local 406 taxi's for years. Took a week to arrive and in that time it's again cooled down and the noise has gone entirely.

Never had such a terrible noise that completely disappears before!

Was the rear horizontal link on driver side, the bush within the link was mighty distorted. I couldn't find any play in it, but the now have replaced it all the noises are gone.