Need some help..

[Expl0ring]

Ok, well i have a 1997 Explorer, 6 cyl.. last night it drove fine and i didnt hear anything out of the ordinary. Now today i started it up, and drove it like normally and i hear this squeeling/sqeaking noise coming from the front end, at first i thought maybe shocks, because if i bounce on the front end i can make it make the noise, but it also does it just by turning the wheel both ways, its extremely embarassing and very loud, and i need this as my daily driver.

Im sure somebody knows what is wrong, so any input will really help!

Thanks guys!!

 

[fixxxer]

Does it sound like belt-slippage or bearings?Happen at idle or at any speed? It could be your belt's worn or not tight enough or it could be the belt tensioner pulley or idler pulley getting ready to go. They both have bearings in them that will eventually wear out or seize up, causing noise like "squeeling/sqeaking noise"(sic). Take the belt off, check for wear and also spin the idler and tensioner pulley's by hand, feel for tightness or looseness or rough operation. Check the pulley's for side-to-side play, there shouldn't be any.

 

[Expl0ring]

Sorry i dont have to be moving or anything, the car can be turned completely off, and i can turn the wheel both ways and it makes the squeeling noise REALLY loud, it seems to have gotten worse throughout the day...

Definetely nothing to do with the motor

 

[fixxxer]

That puts a whole different spin on things. Have you checked your front-end components? set your e-brake, lift your truck up on jack stands, and check wheel bearings, sway-bar bushings, radius arm bushings, shocks, coil-springs and coil seats.

 

[Expl0ring]

ive been reading that it sounds like ball joints.. is that a possiblity or not?

 

[jlsparky7]

Ball joints or tierod ends. Heres a vid on a escort. Explorer is similar except u need a ball joint press to get them out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKsTweoMYHg

 

[fixxxer]

For Explorer upper ball-joints http://www.explorerforum.com/forums//showthread.php?t=194453
And lower ball joints http://www.explorerforum.com/forums//showthread.php?t=188225
lot's of info about diagnosing and fixing front-end issues here:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums//forumdisplay.php?f=100