I got an 06 XLT SCAB 4x4 with a 2.5 HBS leveling kit. About a week ago i noticed that when turning the wheel left (moving or sitting still in park) that it makes a nasty creaky grindy noise. From Left back to full right or center, no noise, from right back to center no noise. But from Center to left it sounds bad. Theres no play in the steering and when driving down the highway nothing feels or sounds abormal, just when i make a slow turn into a parkin lot etc it makes the noise. Sounds like an old door hinge.

 

I would think ball joints...a bad cv joint makes a clicking noise when on the gas going around a corner...jack the truck up and start looking around....

 

Could be either but I would look at the CV joint, usually the lower ball joint will only click once unless its totally gone. When you jack up your truck (hopefully you have a floor jack ) jack it up under the lower A arm. that way everything stays aligned like its on the street. Wiggle the wheel back and forth in all directions to see any movement in the ball joints. If you get both wheels off the ground you'll be able to turn both wheels lock to lock by hand.
Don't forget to check the IWE's. They can create that same sound.

 

Mine did that a couple of years ago. It turns out my lower ball joint was bone dry...no grease in the boot. I was able to use a needle and inject some grease under the edge of the boot and seal it back up with some rtv silicone. This bought be a couple of years but know I have noticed that the ball joints are starting to wear and get loose.

 

Well took the truck to the auto hobby shop here on base, jacked the front off the ground, wiggled drivers side tire left and right, inner tie rod end is bad, got a good about of play in it, upper ball joint is goin that way to. Went all over the place tryin to order parts, only place that even had inner tie rod end at their dist. center was autozone, only 12 bucks though. hope its the right part or ima be irritated but they swore it was right one. Gonne 130 for new UCA's with ball joints, gonna replace them and that inner tie rod and hope that fixes it. If all else fails, im deploying in 3 weeks to Afghanistan so it can just wait till I get back. And the wife will just have to not drive it but maybe around the block once a week or so, keep seels wet and what not. And soft spots of the tires from sittin.

 

I feel your pain. haha Im having the same problem with my truck. Whenever it I turn right or go over a bump it starts making a scraping grinding noise and it seems to be coming just from the front left wheel well. I think its my CV joint but I hope not cause those are pretty expensive. hah But Im taking mine to the shop today to try and get it fixed. Ill let you know what the problem is with mine so maybe you wont have to take yours to the shop.

 

They're not that expensive. Remanufactured parts from Autozone are $60 + core. I just ordered a pair of them and will be installing them this weekend I hope.

 

Well I replaced both upper ball joints and tie rod end on drivers side, noise was still there. Got front end aligned right after work was done, noise wasn't as bad...then the next morning, nothing. Not a single noise since. If it don't come back, well thats that. If it comes back again...well looks like to the shop I go.

 

So I took mine to the shop twice and they cant figure out what is wrong with it but they said that I can just drive it around the way it is and it shouldn't effect anything. But im going to get it realigned and hopefully it will fix it. hah