Hello all. I am a new Ford Truck owner. I just purchased a 2003 F-250 Super Duty with 5.4L, 4x4, 78K miles. I am having trouble troubleshooting a problem with the front steering/suspension. Whenver I turn the wheels when the truck is not moving or moving very slowly, there is a God-awful creaking sound coming form the front end. I cannot for the life of me figure out what is making the noise - ball joints, U-joints, anything else. There is no play in the ball joints. I can't really figure out how to test the U-joints. The sound is almost like a loud rubber creaking noise, not really a grinding noise. It does seem to be coming from the PS pump.

Also, when it rains or snows, the noise is not there at all. Only when dry and when turing when stopped or moving slowly.

Any ideas would be greatly aprpeciated before I start throwing parts at this beast!

Thanks again!

David

 

Save your parts David! Imagine the same noises coming from a nearly new 5200 mile 5.4 SD 250. Since new. From what I can gather from these threads, 3 dealers now, and my very trusted 97 ranger mechanic, Ford has the NOISIEST power steering pumps and creakiest front suspension components in the industry. I can't say for sure this is what you're experiencing but it sure sounds identical to mine. Some mornings (cold) I want to open the hood and open fire with my grease gun but, alas, virtually no grease fittings (because permanently lubricated front end components are SOOOO RELIABLE). Give me back my MOOG and zerks.

 

Thanks for hte input, sounds liek it may be hopeless...

Today I tried spraying the ball joints and U-joints with soem PB Blaster. No luck. Still creaking and whining! Any other suggestions.

 

Try to minimize turning when not moving.
If you don't have steerageway on, don't turn the wheel.
I know that's not always possible to avoid, but it is very hard on the steering components.

Cheers,
jb

 

Hey jb
My dad used to tell me that way way back in the 70s while teaching me to drive. When I'm here in Chicago, its almost impossible to avoid a "dry turn" with all the narrow streets and alleys and parallel parking spots exactly 2 inches longer than my SD. You're right though.
Ed

 

You need to have someone in the truck doing this while you hunt around for the noise with a piece of hose to your ear

 

Very possibly could be the leaf springs. Whenever I start hearing creaking noises under my truck I spray my springs down with some WD40 and it seems to go away.

 

Have you greased your front end lately. There's only 4 zerks so it's pretty easy. Don't forget it could be a tie rod end....

 

From the way you describe it it is most likely the ball joints. Have some one turn the wheel while you bounce the truck a little and see if the noise changes.

 

David
Start looking at Ball Joints. if anything like mine and two others that are in my family they are lucky to make it past 60k and once they started squeaking no amount of grease would stop them. I took the lazy mans way and dropped it at a local mechanic for the day and 550.00 after it was all quiet again

 

sounds like ball joints, my f150 and crown vic both did the same thing. Keeping my fingers crossed on the SD! Good Luck!

 

Thanks for all the info. I did grease all the zerks up front and they were just the tie rod ends. I will try spraying hte leaf springs and see if that helps. I am just worrying that it may be the ball joints. Not really on the mood to do al lthat work. Will follow up soon.

 

Still squeaking, maybe getting worse. Anyone try using a needle on a grease gun to shoot grease directly into the joint and see if that quiets it? That would definitely point to ball joints.

 

They are pretty tightly sealed .... don't know how you would get grease in there.

 

just experienced this and found that it was cured with a simple greasing of all the front end suspension/steering components. Lubed them up and the problem disappeared.