My truck squeaks. Its a '99 2wd with no suspension mods. My front end squeaks. Truck drives straight as an arrow and my steering etc. feels tight as can be from the steering wheel. It always squeaks pretty badly when I go over bumps and when I turn the steering wheel. I'm guessing its my tie-rod ends but how can I be sure? Ive noticed it makes a pretty bad sound if my front end has to articulate a lot, worse than a squeak. Does that sound like ball joints or is that related to the tie-rods as well? I guess the best thing for me to do would be to pull my tie-rod ends and see how they feel. Truck has 135k on the clock so it wouldn't hurt to change them out anyways.

 

you dont take them off to check them. Just grab them and feel if there is any lateral play in them.

Is it noisier cold? Stock shocks can be kinda noisy in the morning while they are cold. but that is more of a noticeable shock in and out sound.

To check your ball joints lift the truck by the control arm (suspension still bearing the weight of the truck) and put a large pry bar under the tire and gently lift up on the tire. have someone watch the ball joint to see if there is any play when you lift and release, lift and release on the prybar.

 

I had a similar problem in the past and the bushings were shot.

 

Which bushings did you have to replace? Arent there several?

 

Shock mount bushings on my truck were shot. At the time I wanted a new vehicle so when I sold the truck to a friend he replaced them and it fixed the squeak.

 

I had the epic squeak. When the truck is not moving, will it still squeak if you push up and down on your bumper? If yes, I'd bet ball joints. That was my problem

 

this thread is a month or so old. Did you get it fixed yet Slama? What was the culprit?

 

^^^
spam

 

had the same problem on my 98 and they replaced the bushings first and it fixed it for a couple days then it came back and turns out it was the ball joints so that would be my guess