Creaky Front End

[bigbri7870]

2006 Eddie Bauer 2wd with just over 101K miles and the front end is VERY creaky when turning but not when driving straight over bumps. I have looked at the entire suspension and can't find anything wrong. Ball joints, tie rods, bushings...everything appears to be in decent shape.

I don't want to start guessing and just replacing parts so I'm turning to you guys for help. Anybody else have a creaky front end? I was thinking about replacing the coil/strut assembly anyway since they're original with 100K+ miles on them.

I'm also going to replace the power steering fluid this weekend in hopes that might be part of the problem. I have to get this figured out......I don't know what's worse, the creaking or the wife complaining about the creaking...

 

[GAINMOB]

1...need to do the 100K maintenance...2...double check the ball joints as they should be nice and round/tall and at that mileage they should be in need of changing...so all the things u named are candidates...in my experience its ball joints and I've seen where bushings were the prob...so I would suggest changing all that way u have all new...or u can start with the bushings...then go to sway bar links...then go to ball joints...

 

[bigbri7870]

Thanks, what is this "100K maintenance" you speak of? I'm debating between ordering bushings and ball joints or just getting the complete lower control arm and not have to worry about pressing the bushings out. (I replaced the bushings on my Town Car and it was miserable)

But either way I think I will be starting with rebuilding/replacing the lower control arm, then sway bar linkage like you said and basically working my way up to the upper control arm coil/strut assembly.

 

[GAINMOB]

Plugs & coil boots
Front & Rear diff fluid change
T-Case fluid change
Transmission flush
Coolant Flush
Cleaned throttle body & Mass Airflow Sensor
Oil & Filter
Rotate tires

 

[bigbri7870]

Quick update, upon further, further inspection and having my wife drive around me in a parking lot I noticed most (if not all) of the squeaking was coming from the rear.

I sprayed all of the bushing on the rear suspension with libricant and now it's as quiet as a church mouse.

 

[GAINMOB]

good deal...money saved

 

[2004XLT]

At 100k it wouldn't be a bad idea to grease the front end components using a needle tip on a grease gun, just poke the needle thru the rubber boots. You'll get a little more life out of everything. I also have squeaking in the rear and spraying the bushings only lasts until it rains, but bushings can be replaced.

 

[AbelNavyvet]

are the ball joints hard to install?

 

[GAINMOB]

time consuming for sure...some replace the entire control arm as it is easier and will have the ball joints already installed...u have to deal with a press to get the balls out

 

[masospaghetti]

At 100k it wouldn't be a bad idea to grease the front end components using a needle tip on a grease gun, just poke the needle thru the rubber boots. You'll get a little more life out of everything. I also have squeaking in the rear and spraying the bushings only lasts until it rains, but bushings can be replaced.

If the boots aren't ripped you could also do pre-emptive maintenance and just replace the boots. Very easy to change. In my experience ball joints don't usually fail until the boots tear and the grease is lost. If you replace the boot and repack it with grease the joint will probably continue to give good service for awhile.

 

[Jb14]

Just replace my entire suspension the Front ball joints were easy on my 2005 4WD (got a good price on the Motorcraft from rock auto) Was looking for upgrade to Balljoints but no luck (Moog only has the cheaper RK in ball joints)

At the rear of the vehicle when replacing the swaybar ends they were rusted and took over an hour to get out (had rattle and creak before replaced) So you may want to check that out.