Strange squeak from front of truck

[JoesTruck]

Hello,

My son has a 91 Explorer that he bought a couple of months ago. It's a great rig so far. We've replaced the serpentine belt, fuel filter, spark plugs and wires, oil, front brakes, cleaned the grease out of the auto hubs etc.

Last week we replaced the front brake pads and had new A/T Tires put on. Now when he drives it, it starts squeaking in the right front after being driven for a minute or two. It starts quietly then gets louder as it's driven. It only does it when the truck is in gear and moving. It doesn't go away as you stop and turning doesn't seem to effect it either so I don't think it's the wheel bearings. I don't think it's coming from the wheels, but it's hard to tell while I'm driving it.

I can park it and let it idle and it doesn't make the noise.

Does anyone have an idea what it could be?

Oh yeah, it's a 4x4 with an automatic transmission.

 

[Cbyersh37]

Could be the radius arm bushings or ball joints

 

[JoesTruck]

Could be the radius arm bushings or ball joints

Would they give off a high pitched squeal?

 

[Cbyersh37]

Possibly... is it a constant squeal as the truck is moving or Is it every once in a while? I once had one of the brake caliper pins come out and scape against my rim and that made a loud screeching noise as I drove around. And it was right after doing my brakes...

 

[JoesTruck]

Possibly... is it a constant squeal as the truck is moving or Is it every once in a while? I once had one of the brake caliper pins come out and scape against my rim and that made a loud screeching noise as I drove around. And it was right after doing my brakes...

I'll check those.

As for the sound, it starts after driving for a few minutes and is constant with the speed of the truck. It sounds like something is spinning. Applying the brakes doesn't make it go away other than the sound slowing down as the truck does.

I don't have time to check right now, but I'm wondering if the tire guy didn't put the hub back on correctly and it's not meshing right. I know when I did the brakes I had to turn it a couple of times before it meshed up and seated fully. Could that cause the sound?

 

[Cbyersh37]

The calipers for some reason don't mesh together very well, so don't think that's where the sound is coming from, definetly check those pins asap.

 

[Curtis]

Do the pads have a 'squealer' tab on them?
Its there to warn of low pads, and as they wear down, this tab will rub the rotor and make a squeal.

Ive bought new pads where this was bent and touching the rotor, just pry it out a bit away from the rotor...

 

[shooterdude199]

Yeah I agree with Curtis but id also check wheel bearings as well and repack them to rule them out. Could be u joints?

 

[halftrak0414]

to me it sounds like u-joints

 

[Curtis]

to me it sounds like u-joints

I think u joints would give a 'squeak squeak squeak' sound as the joint changes direction.

If its a solid squeal/squeak Id still bet on the brake pad squealer.

 

[shooterdude199]

True

 

[cogs]

those anti-rattle clips are always either missing or broken, lol. it'd be cool if that was the only problem.

 

[mr cribb]

When my u-joints were bad it'd squeak in reverse but not forward. The way I finally figured out they were bad was it vibrated really horrible at 55mph(that was the only speed it did this).

 

[JoesTruck]

I don't recall any squealer clips on the pads. The only tabs I remember are the small tabs on the bottom of the inside pad. I believe those help hold the pad in place, I could be wrong.

Packing the wheel bearings is on our list of things to do soon. Probably this weekend.

As for U joints, what mr. cribb says concerns me now since my son has said a few times that he gets a front end vibration at 65mph. He doesn't feel it in the steering wheel though. Would those give a noise after a couple of minutes or would that start as soon as you started driving?

BTW, sorry for all the questions. This is his first 4x4 and as for me, I had an old 4x4 Surburban for a while, but I never need to do anything to the front end other than brake pads.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Keep 'em coming!

 

[cogs]

well, i've been reading about the camshaft position sensor, and it squeaks before it goes out. i've read that lighter motor oil, and a motorcraft oil filter may help with the engine load. myself, i'm going to change the oil and filter, and replace some vacuum lines, since i know mine have had fluid in them. hopefully, the more experienced here can rule out anything.

 

[mr cribb]

As for U joints, what mr. cribb says concerns me now since my son has said a few times that he gets a front end vibration at 65mph. He doesn't feel it in the steering wheel though. Would those give a noise after a couple of minutes or would that start as soon as you started driving?

BTW, sorry for all the questions. This is his first 4x4 and as for me, I had an old 4x4 Surburban for a while, but I never need to do anything to the front end other than brake pads.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Keep 'em coming!

The u-joints you would feel (I DID ANYWAY) pretty much through the seat or console. My u-joints were factory and replaced @ 205,x... It's been 4k miles since then and no vibrations.

 

[JoesTruck]

Alright, we're making progress.

My son just texted me and said the rear driveline is loose to the point of almost being able to spin it around by hand. He had his friends ex Ford mechanic father look at it too and he agreed. It sounds like it coming from the front, but it's coming from the driveline. Guess I'm better put some butter on the U joints cause they are toast.

Those are probably the easiest ones to change though.

Any tips or tricks to make it easier?

 

[mr cribb]

Alright, we're making progress.

My son just texted me and said the rear driveline is loose to the point of almost being able to spin it around by hand. He had his friends ex Ford mechanic father look at it too and he agreed. It sounds like it coming from the front, but it's coming from the driveline. Guess I'm better put some butter on the U joints cause they are toast.

Those are probably the easiest ones to change though.

Any tips or tricks to make it easier?

A vise and a BFH to pound out the old u-joint caps.

 

[cogs]

i was just reading this link earlier about u-joint replacement:
http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/ujoint1/u-joint-1.htm

 

[mr cribb]

I should note that there are clips that you squeeze together w/ snap ring pliers.... after you remove the clips then proceed to use the BFH