I have a 97 f150 4x4, for awhile now I noticed when I turn I get a squeaking in the front end. I thought it was bearings or something, but there was no play in the tires. I took a grease gun underneath and greased the hell out of whatever serts I could find. No luck, still a squeak when turning. Then I followed the black steering shaft (the shaft in the engine bay from the steering wheel to under the truck) to where it meets the rest of the steering rods and stuff under the truck. The end of that steering rod is where it is squeaking like none other. Does anyone have any ideas what I can do to get this annoying squeaking to go away?

 

I had the same problem with mine it turned out to be the idler arm. If there's no serts you can use a grease needle to inject grease through the rubber boot, then clean the area and put some RTV over the hole to seal it up. It fixed mine for a while. Later I replaced all the tie rod ends, Idler arm and ball joints on mine. It cost about $350.00 for Moog, (there are cheaper parts) plus the cost of the alignment. I honestly don't remember any serts under there on the original parts, the moog parts all had serts. It was pretty easy to do and is really the best fix for trucks as old as ours. Also check the Idler arm it should pivot along it's axis mine was rocking inside the housing.

 

Serts? You mean Zerk fittings?