2001 Lower Ball Joint Question

[rc1626]

To anyone who might be able to help.
I have a 01 Explorer which recently started to squeek on the front driver side. The squeeking happens when the suspension is pushed up and down (pushing truck up & down on the front driver side corner). I've climbed under the front end of the truck and pushed the front end up and down to pinpoint where the noise is coming from but can't. It sounds like it's the lower ball joint but could use some help from someone who has experienced a bad lower ball joint. Any Help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Rob

 

[1996xlt]

This is how I pinpointed it, get someone to push down on the bumper and use either a mechanic's stethoscope(sp?) or a really long screwdriver up to your ear. Place the end of which ever tool you use on the bottom of the ball joint and you should be able to tell immediately if that's your problem.

 

[BIGHVM]

Hello, bad lower ball joints in my experiance, just make a dull clunking noise when they are really bad- it may just be your suspension, at the top by the turret squeeks, just give it a heavy dose of wd40 and try make it squeek again,if not spray one thing at a time and move the car up and down each time, the noise stops- the last thing you did, was the cause!

 

[MountaineerGreen]

To anyone who might be able to help.
I have a 01 Explorer which recently started to squeek on the front driver side. The squeeking happens when the suspension is pushed up and down (pushing truck up & down on the front driver side corner). I've climbed under the front end of the truck and pushed the front end up and down to pinpoint where the noise is coming from but can't. It sounds like it's the lower ball joint but could use some help from someone who has experienced a bad lower ball joint. Any Help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Rob

It could be your LBJ, if you have one that has been replaced and has a grease fitting, try greasing it. A squeak doesn't necessarily mean a bad ball joint, but it could mean its dry and thus on the way out.

Also check your anti-sway bar links, lower control arm bushings. It could be just dry rubber rubbing against metal.

How does your alignment look?

 

[rc1626]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to try the screwdriver trick (no stethoscope), or the long hose trick (that one has worked for me also) and I'll let you know what I find. From what I can hear, the noise is coming from the LBJ or the axle above it (could it be that??). Not sure but will do some further investigating. Thanks again. I'll let you know what I find.
Rob