WTH is that creaking noise coming from my front left suspension?????

I did a "search" but really didn't see anything definitive.....
2004 (new style) 5.4 SuperCab, 130,000, shocks replaced at 120,000.

Do these front ends need to get lubed anymore???

any help is appreciated, I love this truck and really don't want to get rid of it!

 

If you haven't replaced any joints up front with ones with grease fittings then no you really can't lube anything. Check for any play in the joints or get someone heavy to bounce the front end and stick your head under to see if you can pin point the squeak. other things to look for are worn bushing and such. All else fails shoot some liquid lube at a spot and take it for a spin and see if it goes away if not try another spot and keep doing it until it goes away or gets quieter then you will know where it is coming from.

 

Sway bar bushings. Mine went south and it took a lot of time to figure out the noise gremlin.

 

......Der......

Just wear and tear.....there are parts that DO wear out.....

Ball joints...
A arm bushings....
Sway bar end links....
Sway bar bushings....

 

Chances are likely either ball joints, on control arm bushings. Possibly sway bar links or bushings, but not too likely... If you don't know how to troubleshoot those issues, take it to a shop... The work of replacing saw control arm bushings, isn't for the faint hearted...

 

I'd be willing to bet that it's your ball joints. There are no zerk grease fittings on the original ones. They will need to be replaced. My 97 F150 had the exact same noise. The colder it got, the worse it was. Had the ball joints replaced, and all the noise went away. Not cheap though. The ball joints have to be pressed in.

Good luck.

 

Ball joints and swaybar bushings will make more noise then LCA bushings will.

 

If it's bushings, soaking them with WD-40 will temporarily stop the noise. That's how my nephew and I nailed down noisy rear shock mount bushings on his Exploder.