front end noise

[ccrain]

I know its been asked here before , and is a common problem on explorers. My 99 squeaks in the front over the smallest little bump in the road and squeaks bad when turning. Sometimes after turning the wheel straight again I here a pop noise. It has done this for around a year and has gotten worse. Ball joints??

 

[RyansX]

Sway bar bushings and sway bar end-links
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php
$30 should take care of it

 

[swshawaii]

Lift tires off the ground and inspect ALL moving parts. My guess would be lower ball joints.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239089

 

[MercuryMullet]

My sisters was the lower control arm bushing. So have someone push on it and listen for noise. Like swshawaii said.

 

[koda2000]

squeaks are usually the sway bar bushings. clunks are usually sway bar end-links. pops on 2wd sounds like a ball joint (on 4WD/AWD pops while turning can also be a CV joint).

to check ball joints properly (and tie rod ends), get one wheel at a time off the ground using the "hook" on the lower control arm to lift the vehicle. any play at the 3-9 o'clock position = tie rod ends. play at the 12-6 o'clock position = ball joints and/or control arm bushings. equal play in both directions could be a wheel bearing.