Stop The Squeaking II!!!!!!
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Stop The Squeaking II!!!!!!
'98 F-150 4X4 XLT began squeaking recently. Have 1/2 mile long sand & limerock driveway thru mature North Florida jungle & every root'n'bump makes it squeak.
Was certain it had to be the J.C.Whitney/Owen's running board I left on passenger side. Upon close inspection, wrestling with it & popping it with big rubber mallet was surprised to find it tight & silent.
Checked bumper & associated bolts, then exhaust & everything else I could see/touch sliding under on a moving quilt. Notta!
Does not sound like bushing or ball joint. High pitch squeak, up near the annoying frequency of nails on chalk board.
Was certain it had to be the J.C.Whitney/Owen's running board I left on passenger side. Upon close inspection, wrestling with it & popping it with big rubber mallet was surprised to find it tight & silent.
Checked bumper & associated bolts, then exhaust & everything else I could see/touch sliding under on a moving quilt. Notta!
Does not sound like bushing or ball joint. High pitch squeak, up near the annoying frequency of nails on chalk board.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: East KY
Any chance it's the pitman arm bushing as you're turning the wheel? Mine started squeaking LOUDLY when my truck was just barely a year old. Especially when I was at low speeds in parking lots, etc. It was embarassing as hell. A grease needle fixed it instantly. Just a thought. I know you said it happens over bumps, but I just thought I'd throw it out there.
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Thanks will be taking a look, but F-150 only must turned 45,000 miles. Seems early even for these Lubed For Life ball joints,no?
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Thanks, will be looking into this, but there's been no indication squeaking is associated with "turning the wheel".
Got "A grease needle" if I can find it.
Got "A grease needle" if I can find it.
Lead Driver
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From: Tennessee
No It does not look too early for them to fail . Depends on enviroment and use .
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Logistics Pro
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From: East KY
Mine had a LOT less miles than that when it started squeaking.
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Thanks JWC 3 & Doc, family emergency delayed getting back to my evolving F150 squeak until this week. Did get several pros to listen/look at the problem, but nobody could confirm if it was top ball joint or shock absorber. Also slathered the suspension bushings in silicone.
Squeak became much more annoying, complaining on every little bump, but ball joints proved to be tight, boots in excellent shape, passed test in FORD shop manual. Got so EZ to squeak could demo by pushing bumper. Fact that it wouldn't squeak until it was bounced 2-3 times & at 1st only squeaked on rebound suggested shock. Finally disconnected shock & confirmed it was ball joint.
Schedule prohibits expensive, DIY suspension rebuild, but had brainstorm. Exclusively rural use means F150 rarely gets wheels turned lock to lock. Just for the halibut I decided to try to redistribute whatever Greased For Life lubricant was left inside the ball joints by steering lock to lock a bunch of times. The theory worked like magic, silencing the persistent squeak in just a few minutes!
Squeak became much more annoying, complaining on every little bump, but ball joints proved to be tight, boots in excellent shape, passed test in FORD shop manual. Got so EZ to squeak could demo by pushing bumper. Fact that it wouldn't squeak until it was bounced 2-3 times & at 1st only squeaked on rebound suggested shock. Finally disconnected shock & confirmed it was ball joint.
Schedule prohibits expensive, DIY suspension rebuild, but had brainstorm. Exclusively rural use means F150 rarely gets wheels turned lock to lock. Just for the halibut I decided to try to redistribute whatever Greased For Life lubricant was left inside the ball joints by steering lock to lock a bunch of times. The theory worked like magic, silencing the persistent squeak in just a few minutes!
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From: Tennessee
Glad you found it . For the heck of it , find your grease needle . You may be able to put some more grease in them , Jack it up to unload the joints , and give them a few shots of grease . If no play ,and gentle use , you may buy some more time on them . Keep a close eye on them though ! Good luck !
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"For the heck of it" I gave up looking for a grease needle in an away from home haystack & just bought another one. Am certainly "able to put some more grease in them" at this point, but would prefer not to puncture intact boots - now that ball joint is silent.
Posted the update in order to let FTE contributors know an EZ way to help diagnose what appears to be a bit of a ball buster symptom. Wasn't surprised that I was unable to pin point source of squeak, but none of the pros who took a whack at it could tell if the squeak was shock or ball joint either!
Posted the update in order to let FTE contributors know an EZ way to help diagnose what appears to be a bit of a ball buster symptom. Wasn't surprised that I was unable to pin point source of squeak, but none of the pros who took a whack at it could tell if the squeak was shock or ball joint either!
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