Strut conversion - creaking noises, especially in the rear

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getdealtwith

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Hola,

Deleted all 4 air struts on my '04 Navigator last year with a Strutmasters kit. The ride comfort is alright but I appreciate the peace of mind of having eliminated the various potential repeat failure points is worth it, IMO, especially at the overall cost.

What is definitely a bit annoying are the creaking that gradually got worse, especially in the back. This must be a common issue because Strutmasters even mentions it in their instructions but they don't provide any tips on how to address it, other than assuring you it's normal and nothing to worry about.

Has anyone who eliminated the air struts on their Exp's or Navis figured out where their creaking is coming from and perhaps managed to quiet it down?

Thanks!
 
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getdealtwith

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So I sprayed down most bushings and joints, front and back underneath the truck with silicone lube and it made a noticeable difference. Still getting a squeak / creaking when the rear struts are compressed a bit more than over road bumps, for example driving onto the drive way. The towers are a bit difficult to get to with the wheels on so I'll try that another time. Read elsewhere here that someone suggested the spring pads. Also, Monroe has a PDF that covers then strut nuts and suggests ones with nylon inserts.
 

whtbronco

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The left front on my 2004 EB does this as well after I swapped the air struts for adjustable Rancho 9000 Quicklift struts. An awful lot of aftermarket struts do for some reason. Spraying some silicone spray helped a bit enough for me to isolate it and realize it was just a nuisance. So I ignore it. A replacement upper spring mount might resolve the issue. The Monroe's on my wife's Monte Carlo did as well until we swapped them with KYB's. We've since swapped those for adjustable struts. I love the ability to adjust compression and rebound, and on the Monte Carlo we can adjust height as well.

Monroe owns Rancho now which is not a good thing in my opinion.
 

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