Front end noise when theres a decent amount of deflection

[ws65]

Ok, this one is hard for me to describe...its a noise coming from my right front when I go over a bump that gives the suspension a decent amount of deflection. Kinda a low pitched squeak on the down stroke and up stroke...almost like you'd here from a mattress...lol...get your minds outta the gutter! It can't be my shocks since I just changed them. Going over other bumps that don't give the suspension a large deflection I don't hear it. As a matter of fact, that side has a new tie rod too. Anyone know what it might be.
Oh ya, '00 xlt 2wd, 4.0 SOHC with 96K miles. Thanks for all the help with my other questions too and I salute you all for your wisdom and knowledge

 

[alohamonte]

ball joints

check the boots for damage

 

[lovebite]

It might possibly be the rubber bushings on your control arms. I have had my upper control arms replaced at bell tire recently and started noticing a squeaking like you described and I thought I had another problem with my ex that would require alot of time or alot of money to fix. It turns out that when the control arms were replaced bell tire experts forgot to put some lithium grease on the bushings before putting them in. the quick, simple and cheap solution for me was to spray down the bushing with alot of WD40 which stopped the squeaking for me. Yes the WD40 will eventually cause the bushings' life span to be shorter but it was a better choice for me to get rid of that squeaking for the cost and time. The way I see it with doing the TT and the bigger tires and my hubs needing to be replaced again only being 1yr old they will wear out sooner anyways. When I go to replace the hubs and have alot of that stuff off again I will just properly take care of the control arms then.

 

[ws65]

So if I sprayed them silicon spray would that help? just got new tires and alignment and replaced the shocks, they did tell me that my ball joints are getting worn...could I let this go for a while and not adversely effect tire wear? (money is a little tight now after tires and shocks...and plugs and plug wires which I have but need to install)

 

[ornithology]

I know what you're saying, I have the same situation too. Just did my alignment and the guy said that the LBJ is showing very very little play. I hear that sound too when I go over large large speedbumps. I'm going to replace them myself in a year or two. Make sure you get another alignment if you do it yourself.

 

[coppe]

Hey i had that same problem... but in a 01 xls with around the same mileage, and in an specialized suspension shop, they found out it was only because the conections of the torsion bars needed a clean up (the side going to the frame, not to the wheel!), lubrication ant tightening, solved the problem with like 20 bucks, when other places wanted to charge me for ball joints, excentrics, bushings...etc etc... This might actually be a DIY thing, i´ve seen threads describing the removal of the little housing, to expose the parts that need to be serviced, i didn´t tried it, because i never thought of it, but you might be able to give it a go, and if the noise persists, then you can take it to the shop.

 

[ws65]

thanks guys, I'll try to find something about the torsion bars as well

 

[alohamonte]

balls joints will make noise, sometimes for months, before it affects the alignment. once it starts to affect alignment, the end is nigh, and you risk loosing a wheel to a pot hole.

 

[ws65]

balls joints will make noise, sometimes for months, before it affects the alignment. once it starts to affect alignment, the end is nigh, and you risk loosing a wheel to a pot hole.

aloha you're scarring me now because its been doing that for a while now...damn, I guess I'll have to change them...figures, its the same side that had the f'd up tierod that just got replaced...I hope I have the cash to get them...where's the best place to get them? Autozone, Pep Boys, Kragen, or Napa (that's the choices I have)

 

[alohamonte]

dont run out and starting buying parts. I've never inspected your truck, I'm just guessing based off of the little bit you've mentioned in this post. You should have a shop diagnose the problem.

Many shops will want $900-1000 to replace lower ball joints. That was very steep. I wound up buying a front end rebuild kit (includes upper and lower ball joints) and paying some dude off craigslist $200 for the install. then went to a shop for the alignment. total cost was around $450.

If you've never replaced the ball joints yet on a 2000, I'd replace all 4 at the same time.

For me it was easy, as I had all the symptoms: ball joint boots were ripped, the joints were dry, made lots of noise over small dips/bumps, and alignment was starting to go.

 

[ws65]

I was under there this weekend doing the shocks...nothing looked torn, not any boots or bushings...the shop I bought my tires from and that did an alignment did tell me the ball joints were getting bad, and I had a bad tierod that had to be replaced because they said without it that it couldn't hold an alignment...if I do it, it will be just the fronts for now (rear seems to be ok from a noise standpoint) and I will do it myself.

 

[ornithology]

Hey i had that same problem... but in a 01 xls with around the same mileage, and in an specialized suspension shop, they found out it was only because the conections of the torsion bars needed a clean up (the side going to the frame, not to the wheel!), lubrication ant tightening, solved the problem with like 20 bucks, when other places wanted to charge me for ball joints, excentrics, bushings...etc etc... This might actually be a DIY thing, i´ve seen threads describing the removal of the little housing, to expose the parts that need to be serviced, i didn´t tried it, because i never thought of it, but you might be able to give it a go, and if the noise persists, then you can take it to the shop.

What sort of lubrication did you use? I know what housing you are talking about and when I did my T-key flip it was rusted as hell down there. I just sanded a bit and left it. Interested on what your shop did.

 

[ws65]

What sort of lubrication did you use? I know what housing you are talking about and when I did my T-key flip it was rusted as hell down there. I just sanded a bit and left it. Interested on what your shop did.

Lubrication for what? Ball joints? What would be thebest to use? I haven't put any on yet (I'm the second owner and I'm just now able to get to some maintenance)

 

[Trefty]

Check your sway bar end links.

 

[coppe]

What sort of lubrication did you use? I know what housing you are talking about and when I did my T-key flip it was rusted as hell down there. I just sanded a bit and left it. Interested on what your shop did.

I didn´t lubricate it myself, but as i like being able to do this kind of stuff (and also only having to pay once for some easy DIY thing), i watched all the process: They first used lots wd40 and cleaned it up a couple of times, then they used regular automatic transmision oil in a dispenser, and afterwards, they kindda packed the libricated parts with some white grease, i´m guessing teflon or silicone based, to avoid the oil to wash out quicklyAnd finally they rearmed the whole thing, and put the housing/protection on, and that was it.

 

[KPT]

It is probably the sway bar bushings. You can take the end links off and drive around to check. Be careful though, you will feel like you are getting the 3 wheel motion without the sway bar.

 

[ws65]

Would I need an alignment if I change out the sway bar bushings?

 

[KPT]

No.

 

[ws65]

Cool, I just looked under there and the frame mount bushings do look pretty bad...much cheaper to fix than ball joints (which I know I need to do but don't have the $$$ right now for that). Should I apply lithium grease to all the bushings?