While truck is not moving when I turn the wheels back and forth I hear a squeaking noise from the front end. Like dry metal against tight rubber. I jump up and down on the front bumper and nothing but turn the wheels back and forth and it there. I took a trrip to Georgia this weekend and when it was cold up there it seemed worse than in warmer Florida. The ball joints seem ok and tie rods too. The truck has 99,500 miles on it. The ball joints do not have a zerk fitting for greasing. Could it be the sway bar? Could it be dry ball joints? Anyone else hear of this?



John

 

Have you tried to grease the front end? Might be a good start.

How old are your shocks?

Is it a 4X4 or 2WD?

 

Original... But wouldn't it sqeak when I jumped on the front bumper and flexed them? Its a 4x4

 

Mine is doing the same thing. I have been told it is the Pitman arm that is making the squeeking sound when the front wheels are turned from left to right. I am also told there are two types of Pitman arms. One with a nipple on it so it can be greased and another that has no nipple. On the type with no nipple I have heard of people poking a hole in the rubber boot that protects it, injecting some grease into the boot and sealing the hole with a silicone to prevent dirt from getting in. I have the Pitman arm with no nipple and am going to use the hole poking and greasing method this weekend to get rid of the squeek.

Rick

 

Hi there Jetset, I'd almost put money on it being the joint of your pitman arm to the steering linkage. Mine had the exact same problem as yours. (embarassing as hell driving in parking lots) Get a needle for your grease gun, or have your mechanic do this. I cleaned off the rubber boot above and below the end of the pitman arm. (you can actually feel that the boot is dry and empty) Then I just poked the needle in and gave it enough grease the I could at least feel some in the boot. Then I took some regular silicone and sealed the holes. 1 above, 1 below the pitman arm. The entire thing cost me $5 and I haven't squeaked since. (Bear in mind I lived with this stupid squeak for months) Trust me, don't put it off like I did. I feel stupid for not having done it waaaaaaayyyy sooner. Check posts for Pitman Arm Squeak. Greasing Pitman arm for more info, but what I described is pretty much it. Hoping you're noise free in no time!!!!

 

I'll try it this weekend. Thanks

 

I have the same problem but mine also squeaks when I push up and down on the front bumper. I was told by a shop that it was the lower ball joint going bad. Well not having the 300 they wanted to fix it, I got on here and read about the pitman arm. I tried the grease needle thing and nothing. Still hasn't fixed it, I then was told by just some friends that it looked to be my bushings(upper control arm)but due to the fact that I was told that I could only order them from the dealership. I passed on that. But so far I have greased everything under the truck and it still squeaks. So I am just going to start with what the shop told me. But remember this point it will save you in the long run. When buying anykind of replacement parts for suspension, buy the ones with the grease zerks.

 

Hey Burkharts:

Spray some silicone lubricant on the A-arm bushings. My 2000 f150 had the same problem. Spray it H E A V Y. A Ford Service Dept. mechanic did this and it solved the squeeking.

 

I want to thank all the people that post solutions on this site.
I had the squeaking frontend when turning the wheels in either direction. greasing the Pitman Arm thru the boot with the needle attachment on my grease gun dit the trick. I had listened to this squeaking for about 8 months. THe cost of the attachment was 8 dollars and no more than 3 minutes work. My kids aren't embarrassed for me to drop them off at school any more.

Thanks,

Dan Benson

 

If I only knew sooner... I'm going on 6 months with the squeak.

 

I noticed that most of the rubber has dry rotted away from my lower ball joints. The sqeak is gone but soon for lower ball joints.

 

Hey there Jetset....glad to hear you are squeakless. I've always thought that sprayining aerosol silicone lube on rubber under trucks is a good idea. It keeps that dry rot from happening in the first place, and if you go in the mud its way easier to clean up after. I guess even pam would work in a pinch. Just a Thought Phil

 

The factory really should put graphite impregnated polyurethane bushings on.

 

i have a 2000 ford f-150 with 16,000 miles on it and the idler arm went out if you get a clunking in the front end that sounds like the suspension check that first i am complaning to ford its very usual that would go out with that little miles on it

 

i had my idler arm and tie rods go out at 16,252 miles another one of fords better ideals putting replacement parts on a truck with no grease fittings in there parts i guess they want you to spend big money contantly replacng the front end parts what a bunch of a butheads at ford