This Squeaking Noise Is Driving Me Nuts!!! Need Some Input

[VW/FordGuy]

Hello fellow explorer members,

1999 Ford Explorer V8 AWD

For the past week now I have had this horrific squealing come from the drivers side front. Ive been doing some trial and error and just got some questions before I go spend some more money. Every time I go over a light to moderate bump or even a wave in the road I get a screach noise coming from the drivers side front. When I am parked and turn the wheel to the right or the left the driver side squeals. I replaced the links on both sides this past weekend along with new bilstein shocks. Did the front wheel bearings 2 weekends ago. Im leaning towards upper ball joint, or sway bar bushings. The truck has a 2 1/2 in lift front and rear just incase there is a common issue from lifting a explorer. The noise started of intermittently then became alot louder and all of the time. I used to turn the wheel in a parked position a few times and it would go away. Any ideas before I go buy the control arm and ball joint.

While im here one more question. When im driving I get a whining noise coming from the center of the truck during acceleration and when there is a load on the truck on the highway ect; Of I let go of the gas pedal while on the highway the whine goes away. Now ive crawled under the truck and seen where the front driveshaft goes into the transfer case at the knuckle, it has a little bit of play not much. Is that normal? I already did the trans mount. Now I think the issue if coming out of the transfer where it meets the rear drive shaft. In neutral if I grab hold of it, it seems that the bearing right at the end of the transfer case has a bit of slop in it. It pivets there where I wiggle it. Also If I tap the gas while driving you can feel a bit of a jerk from underneath.

Thanks for the input again.

 

[james_c17]

ball joints to the first question. and i have no idea about the second question.

 

[VW/FordGuy]

Just a quick update. We had a boat load of rain last week and the noise suddenly went away. A day or two after that it came back. So I decided to rip it apart and take a look. It was not what I expected thats for sure. Here the breather the goes from the boots on the inner tie rods was missing. So from the rain when they were wet they were lubricated. When the rain went away they must of dried out and developed some rust inside. I got a new steel breather hose for it, and cleaned it out good with some PB and then topped it off with some white lithium grease. Good as new, I also must at it must of been a bit stiff for a while after a good cleaning and lubricant steers alot better.

Thanks for the help