Noisy front suspension
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Wichita Ka
Noisy front suspension
My 94 F150 supercab 2wd makes a creaking noise from the front end when turning. Also makes the noise when braking at low speed. Got truck when it had 136,000 miles, has 185,000 now. Has always had the noise. Everything underneath apears to be tight. Any ideas where the noise is originating and how to stop it?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 14
From: West Cornwall, CT
Several items in your front end can cause this sort of noise.
Easiest items to check are the rubber bushings in your front suspension. I'd try lubricating them with a spray lube that will not damage the rubber in these bushings. These bushings are located on the back end each radius arm, on the inner ends of each front I-beam axle and on each end of the shock absorbers.
The next items to check are the two tie rod ends, the drag link and pitman arm end. With luck, you have grease zerks on these links and can grease them.
The last items to check are upper and lower ball joints. You will have to set the truck on jackstands (put them under axles where the coil springs are located) to do this check. TPull/push the top of each tire and see if there is motion in the upper ball joint. 1/32" is the spec. To check the lower ball joints, pull/push the lower end of each tire and check for joint motion. Again 1/32" is the limit.
Lou Braun
Easiest items to check are the rubber bushings in your front suspension. I'd try lubricating them with a spray lube that will not damage the rubber in these bushings. These bushings are located on the back end each radius arm, on the inner ends of each front I-beam axle and on each end of the shock absorbers.
The next items to check are the two tie rod ends, the drag link and pitman arm end. With luck, you have grease zerks on these links and can grease them.
The last items to check are upper and lower ball joints. You will have to set the truck on jackstands (put them under axles where the coil springs are located) to do this check. TPull/push the top of each tire and see if there is motion in the upper ball joint. 1/32" is the spec. To check the lower ball joints, pull/push the lower end of each tire and check for joint motion. Again 1/32" is the limit.
Lou Braun
