Can someone tell me why my 94 F150 creeks cracks when driving slow and making turns? I makes these irritating cracking noises when im cruising through a parking lot or something like that.

 

Where is the creeking coming from? Have you greesed the ball joints and other steering components lately? Look at your body mounts, one could have cracked and failed. Other then that it could be a bushing somewhere, get under ur truck and get a looksee.

 

I'm having the same problem with my 95. We replaced the shocks, and put on a new radius arm bushing, because the original one was shot, but that never stopped the noise, so I guess I am still looking for an answer to this question. Matt

 

Check all front end components. If they all check out, then go to the trans. The crossmember that supports the trans via the trans mount is notorious for making similar noises. The bolts on the mount to the trans and from the mount to the cross member itself have a tendancy to loosen up. Good luck. Jake.

 

The transmission crossmemeber is likely whats causing it if the noise doesnt seem to be suspension related . Ford issued a Tsb about this & I think it applies to all F150 's up to 1996 . It involves replacing the bolts on the crossmember & the gussets that attach to the frame . Ive had the same problem with my truck , Loosening all the bolts on the crossmemeber & gussets & retightening them will stop the noise . I dont know why but it does . Its like the crossmember over time gets in a bind & will cause the cracking & snapping noises . It sounds like the noise is all over the frame & hard to isolate .

 

I had the same problem. Yes, loosening all the crossmember bolts then retorquing them caused the noise to go way for a while. But it wasn't until I installed lock washers on all those bolts that it went away for good! just my $.02

'93 F150 XLT Supercab
5.0, AOD, K&N, Gibson

 

I agree with using lock washers and I would also use lock-tite material on the threads of the bolts. Jake.

 

with the audience agreeing about the transmission crossmember, I guess I will try it. Now how does someone do that?? Do you have to pull the transmission or anything big or is it just as simple as loosening a few bolds and retighting them??? Thanks for all the feedback...

 

You should be able to remove and replace the bolts with lock washers without involving the trans. The trans rests on the trans mount and the trans mount rests on the cross member. It's just a matter of turning the bolts out and then screwing them back in. Good luck. Jake.

 

All you have to do is remove the bolts and install the new ones, which I think you should do, instead of loosening them and retightening them. You will probably break one or two bolts off anyway.
Spray them with some penetrating oil.
Then remove the bolts, go down to the hardware store and get at least grade five or up to grade eight bolts, and some lock washers.
They should be about the same length as the old ones.
Now put the bolt in and the lock washer on before the nut then screw on the nut.
Tighten them down to 43-57 ft. lbs.
Oh, do one bolt at a time, by that I mean take one bolt out than put a new one in. This makes it easier.
I think that’s it, if I forgot something I’m sure some else will add it.

 

There is a specific tightening sequence , The upper gusset bolts first on both sides , then the crossmemeber to frame bolts , lower gusset bolts to crossmember & then lower the trans back down & tighten its bolts to the crossmember . Use Grade 8 bolts if you replace them .

 

I had an annoying creeking cracking sound when I made a turn. It took me two months to figure out that it was the can of anti squeel stuff that I use for my loud as@ belt under the hood...It was moving aroung behind my seat and hitting the wall.......duh.. Hey atleast the squeeling was gone...

 

Frame attachment rivets will also cause creeking type noises. Observe and listen under the truck while someone turns the steering wheel. Look for movement between riveted parts and listen for noise. The rivets near the steering box are a possibility. I have replaced them with Grade 8 bolts to correct similar problems.
Mark

 

Hello,

On my '87 Van, I have had a similar problem. There was quite a loud squeeking / popping sound when turning in the parking lot or at low speed.

I had the tie rod ends replaced, and the whole of the front end components hit with the grease gun.

Didn't cure it.

After about a year of that, one day my steering box dropped out. The van has always labored the power steering pump when turning...you can hear it work hard and load the engine. Backing into a parking space at the golf course and I heard a loud POP! The final of the 3 steering box mounting bolts snapped. One had been rusted through and broken for some time from what I could see....

So...took it in after I got the box mounted back to the frame with grade 8 bolts and had an "expert" look at it.

Conclusion?

The driver's side Kingpin was shot. The tech took the tie rod end bolts loose from both sides, and showed me how easy the passenger side wheel was to pivot, but the driver's side was frozen tight. You could put everything you had into trying to move that wheel and it wouldn't budge.

He took it apart in front of me, and the job wasn't that tough. The hardest part was getting the old pin out. It was sooooo rusted in there! There is a bearing that the wheel assembly rides on, at the bottom of the kingpin. THAT was what was making the squeeling / popping sound. It was shot.

After it was all back together, and another shot of lube the van turns with much ease! No labor of the motor or steering pump. Amazing I never lost a hose on the power steering as hard as it was working.

Just a tale on one machines fix.

JK

 

Funny, I always attributed the popping and occasional additive creeking sounds to a loose dashboard. In doing research on this site I found :
https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/DCForumID39/263.html

The top post describes something I'm going to look into.

I'm quite sure my suspension and steering are fine.