I have a 97 4x4 and have begun to notice a squeaky sound when I turn the wheels from side to side. This occurs even whn I just barely touch the wheel, and I can't seem to find the source. Anyone know where the sound might be coming from, and how to remedy it?

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97 supercab flareside 4x4, 5.4, cd changer, captians chairs, bedliner, hard cover, 17 in rims

 

Do a search for "Pitman Arm". See if that describes what you are experiencing. Every 97 has had, or soon will have, the Pitman problem. When they squeek, it resonates through the whole steering linkage, and is hard to actually pinpoint the source. I tried jacking under the #1 crossmember, so both front wheels were off the ground, but still had trouble locating the source. It was the Pitman Arm "lub'ed for life" joint. A grease gun with a needle attachment did the trick. "Now hold still little rubber boot, this vaccination won't hurt a bit..."

 

Thanks for the idea. Will try that tomorrow. Hope the vaccination does the trick. Will let you know. I knew someone on this board could help.

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97 supercab flareside 4x4, 5.4, cd changer, captians chairs, bedliner, hard cover, 17 in rims

 

granpa,
Where exactly did you get that grease gun? I've been looking but haven't ben able to find one.

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'98 Black F-150 SC w/5.4 ORP, Flareside, Ford Bedliner, factory CD changer, Tow package, power drivers seat, factory running boards (for wife).
Mods/Accessories: Fibrobec fiberglass bed cover
Go Rhino black, one piece brush guard
Ventshades (4 piece set)
K&N air filter
Diamond blue head and fog lights
Superchip
Gibson sweptside exhaust
Bosch +4's
Fog light mod

Future Mods:
GY AT/S
Air Force One System

Yes I have the door crack.

 

Autozone has grease guns, I would suppose that other chain-type parts stores would too. I recently retired my old grease gun (now resting in the landfill) and bought a new one at AZ. A Lincoln #1142. Maybe $20-25, don't remember. It is a full-size cartridge type, good quality, with the lever action. Mini-type squeeze handle guns are also available that take dinky cartridges, but I like full size. Get a hose extension also, so you can replace the useless length of rigid pipe that comes stock on guns. You can reuse the coupler on the end of the pipe, and put it on the end of the hose.
I have a grease needle, less than $5, by LubriMatic, think that was from AZ also. The needle has a grease fitting-like end on it, and you just snap it onto the coupler when you need a needle. The needle comes with a protector, like hospital needles do, and that grease needle IS sharp.
For grease, I use a cartridge of the black grease, the fine print says "meets Ford MIC75B". That grease has better water resistancy than the yellow type of grease, which probably explains why the black type is harder to get off of hands. Ford specifies that type of grease for chassis lube, wheel bearings, etc.