This is really weird - *both* our 4x4 trucks ('97 F250HD 7.3 and '03 F250 6.0) just started making really horrific creaking sounds when turning at low/no speed. It sure sounds like the early death throes of ball joints to me...except why would they both start doing it at exactly the same time? The '03 only has 45K miles on it, though it's not out of the question they could start to fail that early. The '97 has nearly 130K on it, but the ball joints were just redone 9 months ago, and it's had less then 2K miles on it since then!

The '03 of course does not have greaseable ball joints. The lower ones on the '97 are greaseable but oddly I can't force a single drop of grease in there.

The sound is constant while the wheels are being actively turned. It doesn't sound like creaking spring bushings or something, which would happen as the pitch of the truck changes while turning, but not that constantly.

This ring a bell for anyone? If it really is ball joints failing all around, I need to

A) finally invest in the proper tools for that job, and
B) figure out what the heck is in the air around my driveway to cause that!

Duncan

 

It might be shocks. Or it might be your differential.....if it's limited slip. It might need some modifier. Just some ideas.

 

Can you remove the zerks from their holes? Most are threaded in. Than you could get some replacements at NAPA or clean out the obstruction and reinstall. Or get at whatever is blocking the flow under the zerk too. Possibly.

 

Good one Kwik....I missed that about the grease. There might not be any cavity there any more.

 

kwik got it before i did.

 

You might also check the grommet where the steering shaft enters the cab through the firewall. I have had other vehicles "moan" from that area. A little silicon grease took care of the problem.

 

The zerks are not obstructed. If I take them out I can pump grease through them all day.

The creaking is definitely at the wheels, not up by the firewall.

On both trucks, I lifted the whole front end up this morning, and there is no creaking. I'm not sure what that proves. Without the weight of the truck on the ball joints, they don't creak? Without the weight of the truck on the springs they don't creak? Looks like I'm going to have to get a spouse or son to help me, spinning the steering wheel while I'm under there trying to pinpoint the noise. Of course they aren't going to be able to turn the wheel of that heavy truck unless the engine is running, and all that racket makes it harder to pinpoint the noise.

All the ball joints are tight as can be, and operate completely smoothly with both wheels in the air.

As far as I know, the front axle is not limited slip, though the rear is on both trucks. Do they even make LS front axles stock?

Possibly unrelated thing I noticed on the '03: where the stub axle comes out of the axle tube there is a rubber ring there that kind of fills the gap between the stub axle and the tube. It seems to just be rattling around on the stub axle shaft, as opposed to being pressed into the axle tube like an oil seal would be. It's like this on both sides. Nothing is leaking out, and it isn't really shaped like an oil seal. What is its purpose? I'll have to take pictures later if nobody gets what I'm talking about.

Duncan

 

Tie rod ends.

 

sounds stupid but it might be your springs, I get that every spring with my 2000 F250 take, and spray some WD 40 at them, then try it bet it goes away mine seems to be at the back side of the spring were the little nylon wear piece sits between the springs.

 

My 99 PSD "clanks and thuds" in very slow turns after I go though a big puddle, car wash or after driving in rain. After some miles, it goes away. It was quite alarming until A mechanic friend said that it is normal with the size tires (35's) I am running. Something to do with the big tires gripping and then slipping.

 

My little nylon spring rub pieces are in place in both trucks, but I can try lubing the ends and see if that helps. My impression was that it was squeaking constantly while the wheels were moving, which I think would be different than the springs squeaking as the truck stance changed while turning... but I could be wrong. It would certainly make more sense for them both to start at the same time (weather conditions or whatever making the squeak worse.)

The tie rod ends are all well greased; I can get grease into those! Those also wouldn't change when the front end of the truck was in the air, while ball joint or a spring does change when unloaded.

Duncan

 

Well Duncan
It worry's me that you can't get any grease into those ball joints. It almost sounds like a situation I had once....same problem....won't take grease. I cut it open after replacement. It turned out that the inner bushing was gone, and the ball part was right against the hole, sealing it off effectivly. That one creaked real loud. The bushing provides a cavity which holds the grease. This is only some insight.....your problem may be something different.
I don't know what would cause two trucks to have the same symptoms. Unless it is; as you say, a weather cause. I know my springs creak when I get in it.....but I don't recall anything while turning.

 

A couple of years ago the '97 was creaking *really* badly on one side. Then eventually it stopped. That was about the time you could rattle the top ball joint back and forth about 1/8" (but hey, no more creaking!) Eventually I replaced them all and no more rattling or creaking.... but that was less than 2K miles ago and I'd be really bummed if the new creaking was another failing joint. But first I'll try some WD40 or PB Blaster in the spring ends and see if that helps.

Duncan