My 2001 Escape XLT has started making a loud, creaking noise while driving. This noise frequently happens on rough roads with large bumps, but also happens while making sharp turns. It seems to be coming from both the front and back of the car, and mostly on the passenger side. The problem doesn't seem to be the suspension- doesn't squeak at all if sitting. The car just hit 62,000 miles so I'm wondering if the ball joints need to be greased- could this problem produce the squeak? Sometimes, the noise is fairly quiet, but it seems to have gotten louder in the last couple of months.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

 

it sounds like the same thing my wifes escape is doing and we have part of it tracked down to the strut top plate and the bushings in the front end. we also have a 2001 xlt and the squeking started about 62 thousand also.

 

Ford also has a TSB for end links on the front sway bar. They are sealed bushings and they can start to squeak and groan. It is most noticeable on low speed turns and bumps.

 

Thanks for both posts! I took the Escape to Goodyear- they greased everything down for free and the squeak is gone (knock on wood). Thanks again for your help!