I have a '97 150 4X4 with 120K on it. I have developed a squeak in the left front end that it very annoying. It occurs all the time but it only noticable when the windows are down at slow speeds. Speed bumps or pot holes really make it loud. I can step on the step bars and make the squeak sound, but I just can't pin point where it is coming from.

I have tried to spray all the bushing down with a white lithium grease. The best I can tell, it might be coming from a ball joint or the front CV joint. Does anybody have any experience with any front end squeaks with 4X4's? Is there any part I should replace first?

 

i have the exact same problem on my 2wd 97 and i think i found the issue. mine has 97k on it so i was jacking it up the other day to see how my ball joints and tie rod ends... looked, and i found alittle play in the ball joints on the passengers side, but alot of play of the squeky drivers side. so i am convinced it is the movement in those joints. i havent replaced mine yet cause i am waiting till i get new shocks.

 

Well I got a 97 also and over the last couple months I have an intermitant squeek coming from the passenger side when suspension flexes. I was knocking some mud off this morning before washing it and realized all my bushings, well heck just about every rubber piece attached to the suspension and steering that I could see was getting pretty dried out. About 110k miles, guess I need to plan a weekend to pull the suspension apart and replace everything.. Anyone know of package deals to make sure I get all the pieces I need?

 

mine looked that way to, when i get new shocks and replace the ball joints, i'm going to look into replaceing all of those too. one of the two, or maybe a combination of both, has to be causeing the squek

 

It's your ball joints. Go ahead and replace both upper and lower ball joints and make sure you install a camber kits on both sides if you don't already have them installed. After all this is done, take it in for an alignment.

 

Any ideas on costs for the parts (doing work myself) that I would need? Any tip on making sure when I go to tear it all apart I got all the stuff I would need?

 

Mine did the same thing... Replaced innner and outer tie rods, and upper and lower ball joints on both sides... I think I paid around $300 at Murray's for all lifetime Guarantee stuff. BTW its more for a 4x4, the uppers are part of the complete a-arm. They make a kit to make just the upper ball joint removeable, but IMO its not worth the hassle. Lower's were a pain in the a$$, I heated them with a propaine torch, but be careful the boot of the ball joint is made of Delrin, when it melts it will make you cry and possibly pass out...lol Dont put the ball joint back in with the bottom of the spindle hot, it will destroy the new ball joint, the inner bearing (which I believe is nylon) will melt and create slop in the joint. ( I learned the hard way) I also bent my ball joint tool (looks like a big C-clamp) trying to get them out... I was very careful and heated them, then beat them out with a ball-peen hammer... Have fun, if you need anymore instruction feel free to ask me.

 

Thanks for all the advice. I will have to look into just replacing maybe the upper and lower ball joints.

 

Could also be the idler arm, and the Pitman. I replaced everything on my 97. Each piece helped, but it didn't get totally quiet until I did the last item.

 

97 ford f150...

here is what i went threw...squeak in front end...
mind...other mechanics couldnt find the noise.


made appointment with dealer waited 8days

dropped vehicle off at dealer..gibbons ford ****son city penna. "xsses"
walked home 2 miles..
waited 1 day they didnt have time to look at the vehicle

day 2..the mechanic that looks at that particuliar problem on vehicles wasnt in that day????

day 3..called after i got out of work 4.30 pm still had not looked at vehicle..

pissed picked up vehicle 2 days later weekend again..lol kind of new it was the pitman arm just needed them to take vehicle for a ride and to listen to noise???plus part had to be ordered threw ford anyway had to wait a week to get the part as per there parts dept.???

took vehicle back next day complained to head mechanic....he walked over to vehicle shook vehicle up and down with his arm....yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa its the pitman arm took 5 minutes not even..pitman arm was on shelf inventory..15 minutes later it was finished new arm under the extended waranty..minumal fee...done
noise gone

 

I bought my 97 F-150 about four years ago. Once I reached the 40,000 mile mark it began to squeak constantly. To solve this I bought some self tapping grease fittings and a drill bit that had a slightly smaller diameter than the fittings. I then drilled holes into the bottom centers of all ball joints and tie rods. Next, I screwed the grease fittings in and added grease with my grease gun. I have been operating the truck quietly now after driving 100,000 miles.

I have learned that they no longer place grease fittings on the newer vehicles because they want you to dish out big bucks to replace all of the joints every 40,000 miles. Or either become so annoyed that you are forced to buy a new vehicle.

 

Has anybody replaced the control arms and lower ball joints with sucess ? I have a pretty bad squeek in the driver side. I am willing to take on the project, but I don't have any idea on the time needed for such a project. Is there a how to article somewhere ?