Frustrated with front end squeaking

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

Ok first off I haven't been hear for quite awhile, so hows it going? see the site is still around and looks good


now i'm gonna blow off a little steam.

I have this damn squeaking noise in the front end of my explorer and i'm to the point of setting it on fire.


It started Last winter, it happenend over night, it just started with this horrible squeak, whenever i would hit a bump and whenever i would turn, so i took it home after work, greased everything and sprayed all the bushings down, after that the squeaking went way overnight.

this winter was fine until last week it started to do it again right overnight, so i did the same thing, sprayed all the bushings down and it went away, but came back just as fast.

I thought maybe some water got in somewhere so i heated it up in the garage and sprayed it all down over and over again, back it out of the garage take it down the driveway and its squeaking again.

I'm so frustrated with how it can just suddenly start making noise and then not go away.

I did plan on replacing the balljoints this year but thats just it, just the balljoints but i guess if i have to take the whole damn thing apart i will put new lower a-arms in, not excited about removing the torsion bars as I've never done that before and gotta love Wisconsin rust.

I guess i just need some advice on perhaps a temp fix although i don't see anything around replacing it all.

Its just to the point where i don't wanna drive it anymore cause it literally drives me crazy.

I do have my truck so i will drive that until i get this figured out.


and another question, as it still has the original balljoints at 105,000 miles it has the goofy 2 piece upper control arm, can i replace this with a one piece with no issues? not exactly sure why they had the 2 piece there....perhaps alignment reasons?

and is there anything else i should look at replacing if i am gonna rip everything else apart?

I imagine the shocks and swaybar links will go because i will probably have to cut them off etc.


any hints with how i should go about removing things would be much appreciated, i plan on tackling this my next weekend off if i can get all the parts and stuff orderded etc.


Thanks for your time.

 

[blakshukvw]

You can replace the 2 piece control arm with a 1 piece, no problem. Try a silicone spray on your CA bushings. My truck is making a squeak over bumps right now since it got cold too. I would bet it's either the shocks or control arm bushings instead of the actual balljoints. The balljoint isn't going to really care if your going over a bump like a flexing bushing would. No way of really telling which control arm bushing it may be. Could be any of them. Look for signs of distress and cracks. Try lubing one at a time and a test drive in between each.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

yeah i've used 2 cans on silicone spray on them

i've narrowed it down to the bushings on the right side, if i let it sit in the garage with the heater once they warm up the squeak goes away. soon as i take it outside and drive it for a bit starts making noise again.

I know the balljoints or worn so they need to be replaced soon anyways, but its just hard to get motivated when its cold and crappy out this time of year.

thanks for your quick answer.

now its just gonna suck trying to get all the bolts out.

 

[blakshukvw]

I agree with you on the motivation part. I hate working on anything even inside when it's this cold. It sucks. Can you see cracks in the CA bushings? As for stuck bolts, get yourself a propane torch. You may heat up the parts the bolts are in and use a hammer to help loosen the rust.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

yeah chances are we are gonna be getting acetylene torch very soon so that'll help and i do have a fair amount of air tools that will speed up the process.


and of course a BFH

before i start taking too much stuff apart i may unhook the sway bar and drive it around and see if it still does it though just to make sure its not those bushings.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

just priced the stuff out on rockauto.

all said and done with shipping and handling its gonna be 333 dollars and some odd cents and then the alignment.


ah......spending a pile of money in the new year, gotta love it.

 

[blakshukvw]

Should be worth it when all done. If you're replacing the swaybar end links and bushings, get the Deeza brand. They're just like OEM and a perfect fit. My truck had poly bushed upgrades when I got it that were recently installed and they went bad quick. I installed the Deeza's and no problems since. Make sure if you're changing over to the one piece upper CA to order the new eccentric bolts to adjust the camber. They'll need to be installed when you install the arm so the alignement shop can properly set the camber.

 

[jumpervb]

Change your lower ball joint.
My X drove me nuts squeaking just like you described, Had the oil changed and asked them to look for the squeak, came back and told me the ball joint was bad. I was skeptical because afterall it was a chain service center.
Took it to my regular mechanic and he verified that the joint was wore out.
Had him replace it and squeak is gone! Woo Hoo!

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

just the balljoint? really?

that would save me time and money.

i'll take a look at it again tonite.

thanks for time and also the reminder on the camber bolts.

 

[OneLever]

To further narrow it down you could wait for the squeaking to come back. Then spray only one bushing or ball joint with lubricant. Drive it for awhile and see if the squeak went away. If not spray a different bushing/ball joint by itself. Repeat until the offender is found.

 

[windsors03cobra]

I got the alignment kit from my local Napa.
I kept the 2 piece UCA, nothing wrong with it.

Mine squeaks some when it gets super cold but once its warm its quiet, I was surprised how well the UCA's bolts came out of the bushings, was very happy about that. 206k miles in the rust belt.
Taking off the lower control arms ? Now that sounds ugly.

 

[gmanpaint]

Which type of parts are you going to get? Service grade or Professional grade?

There is a huge difference in quality in these. I went all Pro grade, and would never use service grade again after doing so. These will save you time & money in the long run.

Rockauto also has about the best prices for Pro grade Raybestos parts. Use the forum code for 5% off when ordering.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

i will most likely go with the MOOG brand balljoints for uppers.


if i replace the lower control arms they come with sealed balljoints and bushings included.

i will probably stick with the MOOG brand and they are decently priced.

i will probably pull it in again during the week and spray everything down again and try greasing the balljoints again with a needle, would really love it if i could just get it to stop so i can make it a summer project, by then i'd have my car out and i wouldn't be pressed for time to get it done.

 

[Bill MacLeod]

Change your lower ball joint.
My X drove me nuts squeaking just like you described, Had the oil changed and asked them to look for the squeak, came back and told me the ball joint was bad. I was skeptical because afterall it was a chain service center.
Took it to my regular mechanic and he verified that the joint was wore out.
Had him replace it and squeak is gone! Woo Hoo!

Same here with my 99. Used a piece of hose for a stethescope and had one of the kids rock the truck. Did it ever groan.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

alright so i got home from work and i checked it out again, i cut a small slit in the lower balljoint on right side and filled it with penetrating oil and then greased it, turn the wheel back and forth and the noise disappeared.

so thank god i will only need to replace the lower balljoints for now instead of the bushings etc.

thanks a lot for the help.

i will take it to work tomorrow and see what it does and if it stays quiet i will be ordering balljoints to replace next weekend.

now any pointers on changing the lowers would be much appreciated.

i will eventually change the uppers and probably the tie rod ends but i just wanna do the lowers now and then when spring/summer hits i will do the rest and then have it aligned.


thanks again for your time.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

also i've noticed that there are several different lower ball joints.

one is labeled an oversize balljoint.


which ball joint do i need for the OE lower control arm?

 

[jumpervb]

alright so i got home from work and i checked it out again, i cut a small slit in the lower balljoint on right side and filled it with penetrating oil and then greased it, turn the wheel back and forth and the noise disappeared.

so thank god i will only need to replace the lower balljoints for now instead of the bushings etc.

thanks a lot for the help.

i will take it to work tomorrow and see what it does and if it stays quiet i will be ordering balljoints to replace next weekend.

now any pointers on changing the lowers would be much appreciated.i will eventually change the uppers and probably the tie rod ends but i just wanna do the lowers now and then when spring/summer hits i will do the rest and then have it aligned.


thanks again for your time.

Check the stick threads at the top of the page. There is a how-to thread on them both.

 

[98EdBomber]

I have a 98 2wd and i have noticed a squeak and i took a looksie underneath and found that the lower control arm bushings are cracked and probably need to be replaced. Ive replaced everything else in the front end that would cause a squeak. Only thing left is the LCA bushings. Which sucks because the torsion bar has to come out and I will more than likely have to buy brand new LCA's $$$....So i guess ill look into that Reconditioning spray that is out there. Maybe that'll quiet her down a bit. I mean Im not ridin her THAT hard to be squaking like a duck.

 

[Bill MacLeod]

alright so i got home from work and i checked it out again, i cut a small slit in the lower balljoint on right side and filled it with penetrating oil and then greased it, turn the wheel back and forth and the noise disappeared.

so thank god i will only need to replace the lower balljoints for now instead of the bushings etc.

thanks a lot for the help.

i will take it to work tomorrow and see what it does and if it stays quiet i will be ordering balljoints to replace next weekend.

now any pointers on changing the lowers would be much appreciated.

i will eventually change the uppers and probably the tie rod ends but i just wanna do the lowers now and then when spring/summer hits i will do the rest and then have it aligned.


thanks again for your time.

Once you have the old ball joint out, clean the hole in the control arm with a wire brush in an electric drill. Use anti seize here to help press the new bj in. Should almost slide in. This will make it much easier when you need to take it apart later to change other pieces.
The most difficult item is removing the bearing hub from the knuckle. The 3 bolts on the back side are very difficult to access. The whole assembly can be removed as a unit and seperated on the ground/bench. This is when you want to replace the bearing hubs.
Clean any machined surface with a wire brush and use anti-seize.
It can be less of a hassle to change everything at once, but cost becomes a factor. Antiseize is your best friend for reassembly.

 

[bobflood]

now any pointers on changing the lowers would be much appreciated.QUOTE]

Put the new ball joint in the freeze overnight, then install it cold. The slight reduction in the diameter due to the metal contracting will help it slip into place much easier. Just noticed that you are in Wisconsin, so I guess you just leave it on the back porch overnight!