97 front end noises

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Mar 13, 2008 | 02:30 PM

countryboy116

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From: Winter Garden, FL

97 front end noises

Hey yall ive been searching so dont tell me to do that and i think ive found my answer but i havent been able to find a for sure answer so here goes, my 97 F150 4x4 is "creeking" real bad when i turn it, i believe that after searchin ive found out that i need to just shoot some grease into the pitman arm boot, is that correct? thought i saw that somewhere, also whenever im driving and hit the smallest bump it squeaks really bad, i have a feeling that these are the balljoints, anyone able to confirm this? Any help would be appreciated, also anyone know the best place to buy ball joints (or i guess upper control arms since the stock balljoints dont come out of the control arms?) sorry for the long post, any help is appreciated, thanks!

Mar 13, 2008 | 03:08 PM

Bobby82490

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From: N. Fort Myers,FL

Sounds like you might have bad ball joints. Now if they arent worn out you can grease them with a grease needle, to fix the squeeking. But chances are if they have been squeeking a while they are probably bad.
If you can afford the little bit more cost of them, i recommend getting MOOG parts, they are available at Advanced Auto. They have grease fittings in them, and when they need to be replaced, then you can press out the old ball joint out of the MOOG arm, and replace with a new one.
There is an article on how to change them in the Articles/Specs location.

Mar 13, 2008 | 03:11 PM

Bobby82490

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From: N. Fort Myers,FL

Also check your Pitman arm, Idler arm, and tie rods while you are down there replacing the ball joints.
Not to bust your chops but i didnt know you could buy 33ft tall buckshot mudders

Mar 13, 2008 | 03:15 PM

countryboy116

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From: Winter Garden, FL

thanks for the reply, ill call up to advanced right now to check prices and availability, how do i check to see for sure that its the balljoints?

Mar 13, 2008 | 03:22 PM

Bobby82490

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From: N. Fort Myers,FL

If you wan to check prices just look on Advances website.
If you jack up the front of the truck, and grasp the top and bottom of the tire and shake it, there should be no play. Also you can check the tie rods, pitman, idler by holding on to the sides of the tire and shaking back and forth.

Mar 13, 2008 | 04:31 PM

countryboy116

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From: Winter Garden, FL

ok i called and they didnt moog, haha yeah 33ft tall buckshots its the newest thing, but i jacked up the driver side, no play vertically but when i held the tire on the sides and shook it there was play left and right but not much, dont know what means, maybe tie rods? also when i did the passenger side there was no play vertically and horizaontally basically but when i jacked it up it squeaked (it didnt do that on the drive side) and i had my dad jack it up and i listened and it sounded like it was coming from the ball joint though (i also felt it and it felt like that was the source also) any input on this? im thinking ill order the right front upper control arm and thinking that should solve it, however i still need to adress the creeking when i steer, any thoughts? THanks again for all the help, rep will be given.

Mar 13, 2008 | 05:55 PM

tj90

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I verified that the AutoZone Duralast tie rod and lower ball joints all have zerk fittings. I did see they are made in Taiwan, but what else do you expect from AZ?

I would of thought that creaking you are getting is due a noisy sway bar. Is the noise accompanied with clunks or looseness? If the front is tight, Id check bushings on the sways.