I know...I know. Another "name that sound" thread. A friend of mine has a 98 Ranger, 2.5L, manual, ext. cab, 80k miles. The front end creaks/groans almost constantly. If you are sitting in one spot and turn the wheels, you hear it. If you are driving and turn, you hear it. If you go over a bump, you hear it. If you hit the brakes while moving, you hear it. I took a quick glance underneath and didn't notice anything unusual. The boots around the lower ball joints are punctured so I know they will need to be replaced anyway, but could bad ball joints make all the sounds I'm describing? Or are we looking at something else?

 

I've found that suspension/steering compnents that make noise also make a vibration that you can feel sometimes, see if you can track it down by feel. If the boots a damaged I would start there.

 

my experience with my 2001 regukar cab 2.5 is the upper balljoint/arm assembly. you have to purchase it as an assembly too. If i remember right, it was 130ish at ford dealer. came off real well for me, but then again i p/oil the nuts and bolts for 5 days ahead of time.

it will make your tires where badly too.

 

Thank you. Any other possibilities?

 

I've made a habit of spraying all my rubber front end and rear end bushings with silkolene chain lube from my dirt bike and it gets rid of the creeks.

 

Sometimes you can get a rust build up in the stabilizer bar bushings. You can remove them, clean the bar and bushings, then lubricate them with silicone grease. My Explorer had an awful creak when driving on uneven surfaces or turning, turned out to be the lower ball joints.

 

My 99 ranger has 100K on it now. It had front end creaking for a long time... probably back to the milage you said was on yours. I went to get a couple new tires and alignment and they couldnt align it because the ball joints were destroyed. When I put my weight on the front fender, the creaking seemed to be coming from the spindles on the control arm. I lubed the heck out of those and it really didnt do any good because the creaking was coming from the ball joints. When I replaced them they were nothing but dust and not even close to round.

To check this, jack up your front end and push and pull on the top of the tire. Movement of more than 1/32" indicates a problem with the ball joints. Wheel bearings also cause this but to a lesser degree.

My truck was also steering funny. It was floppy... like it was misaligned but not in the same irection all the time.

I was unemployed at the time and the ball joint job was worthwhile with tools from the parts store since I had nothing better to do I needed a bench vise too since i couldnt get the top ones out or in without it. The top ones are easier to get out if you take out the control arm. I took it on a 2000 mi. trip after that and all was well.

good luck

 

I have a 94 SC and it has a creak when I accell from a stop, you can get on the rear and get it to bounce and it will creak up front. Have been thinking of maybe R&Rng the sway bar and other bushings.

Anone done this and did it help? I saw in JC Whitney they want about $130 for a complete bushing kit seems a little steep but if it will help.

Hank

 

Everytime I change the oil, I spray the bushings down real good with wd40 and that seems to get rid of the noise.

 

2001 and later i believe are not pressable...