alright, I am usually in the bronco forum but my father owns a 2000 f-250 ext. cab v-10 4X4. The truck is straight axle up front and every time he drops of the curb from the drive way the suspension just squeaks. it also does this when you hit bumps. could this be the shocks or is there something else he should be looking for?

 

If it is fact your front springs, I think there is a TSB about this, something to do with spring isolater pads or something along those lines. I have never dealt with the issue, but some one will be along shortly to point you in the right direction.

 

My 2002 does the same thing, FORD told me it's normal.

 

What do you mean by TSB?

 

Technical Service Bulletin, not a Ford recall ,just tech help. Do a search on this site and you will probably find it. Good luck.

 

It's most likely the front spring perches. I had mine replaced with upgraded ones shortly after I bought the truck and it helped a little. Best thing I've found is to spray them with white lithium grease and they'll be quite for a year or so. Winter weather around hear seems to make them noisey agian. I just sprayed mine a few days ago and they quieted right down. I also shoot a little on all my springs just to keep everything moving freely and quiet. Only takes a couple of minutes.

 

I've also heard that the sway bar bushings will dry up and sweak/chirp during suspension movement. I know there is greasable bushing/mounts(have zert fittings) out there made by energy suspension but I don't know part numbers and such.

Anybody else know about this?

 

The Ford TSB for front end squeak is 99-16-3. I have heard mixed reviews on effectiveness of this fix (i.e. normally short-lived) so I just keep keep 'em clean and lubricated.

 

My 2000 F250 4X4 WAS doing the same thing - Ford said it it normal - I did not like sounding like an old ranch truck. I am not that techical so I will appologize up front. When replacing a set of tires at the local Firestone, truck was on the lift and started talking to the shop forman about the problem. He stated it is probably the little spacers between the leafs. Showed me where they were, sprayed the lubicant and the squeaking stopped.
I called Ford and the said they do not service the components on the springs. in other words good luck.

The fix.... I called a local spring shop in Houston who works on larger trucks and they agreed with my assesment and said that they did not have any knowledge of where to buy the spacers but was kind enough to let me pull about 10 slightly used from the collection bin for $5.00. Relpaced them. Now, quiet as a mouse.

 

72indi, thanks for the reply. I can't believe Ford would say they don't service those parts. (Well, based on other people's comments I can).

I went ahead and pulled up service bulletin 99-16-3. It is titled: "Suspension - Front Leaf Springs - 'Squeaking' Noise Heard Heard From Front Leaf Springs While Driving".

I will copy the description below. But clearly this is serviceable item.

You got me thinking, tho. I am tired of spraying my front leafs every couple weeks. For how long have you had those spacers in? My squeak is the worst when they get dusty or dirty, you get any problem with that?

Any chance you can snap a picture of those spacers? Maybe I will call a local shop to see if can get some spacers too. Below are the instructions for the TSB. Does that sound like what you did? Sounds like a pretty straight forwaed DIY.

Cheers!

FORD:
1999 SUPER DUTY F SERIES
ISSUE:
A "squeaking" noise may be heard from the front springs as they compress during driving on some vehicles. This may be due to debris imbedding between the front spring tip isolators and the front springs.
ACTION:
Replace front spring tip isolators with revised isolators. Refer to the following Service Procedure for details.

SERVICE PROCEDURE
1. Raise the vehicle so that the front axle is allowed to hang freely suspended (lift vehicle by frame).
2. Use a prybar to open gap between two (2) leaves.
CAUTION:
PRIOR TO STEP 3, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE HEIGHT OF THE CENTER BARBED NUB WHICH PROTRUDES THROUGH THE LEAF. CAUTION SHOULD BE TAKEN NOT TO NICK OR GOUGE INTO THE METAL OF THE LEAF.
3. Pry out worn tip isolator.
4. Using pliers to hold the replacement spring tip isolator on the locator flange and maintaining force on the prybar to keep two (2) leaves separate, position the isolator so that center barbed nub fits into the hole of the lower leaf and the two (2) locator flanges are oriented outboard of the spring.
5. Remove prybar and allow leaves to close on each other.
6. Follow Steps 2-5 for both front and rear front spring tip isolators.
7. Lower vehicle.

 

See i told you I was not very technical - I did not ask Ford for "spring tip isolators" - probably a mistake on my behalf - your info describes what I did to fix my truck. The one I pulled out were rectangular and the replaced were round but they seem to work. I have had them in about 2 months.

I will snap a pic and post this weekend.

 

I picked up the new isolators from Ford auto parts and installed them this weekend. So far my F250 has no noise. It's weird, I am so used to the squeak, I kinda miss the sound.

In case anyone else is having the same issue and finds this thread, I thought I would pass along my comments/experience.

When I asked for the part listed in TSB 99-16-3, they said the part number has been replaced with a new one. On my receipt it is part#1C3Z*5B302*AA, $17 and is a kit for both leaf springs. They are still white, but I think the difference is that the kit now includes a piece that fits above the isolator on the curved part of the leaf spring joint (hard to explain sorry, it makes sense when you see the kit).

I think this truly addresses the problem as the leaf spring is not directly contacting the isolator. I could see where leaf was contacting the old isolator and it was worn flat and smooth. Now the two plastic isolator pieces rub against each other on their flat surfaces.

Anyone doing this themselves, I would recommend having a couple extra tools:

• 1" diameter wooden dowel about 1 foot in length. I found this to be very helpful to stick between the leafs after I pried them open
• 18" flat utility/crowbar. The isolators would not snap into the holes even when I closed the leaf springs back on each other. By slipping the utility bar on top of the isolator, I could press it into place
• Rubber Mallet. A couple whacks on the leaf to completely seat the isolator

All-in-all took me about 3 hours, from start to clean up. But I wasted a lot of time trying to figure out how I could lift the truck by the frame high enough to have the front axle hanging freely. A comment on that too: I found that the rear isolators were easier to install with the wheels slightly touching the ground.