I have a squeak in the right front of my 97 Expedition 4x4.

description-

frequency increases with speed

no change with brake

cannot reproduce with wheel off the ground spinning by hand

I seemed to notice that it was louder when under load (accelerating or engine braking) but it may have just been the speed increasing and the load shifting respectively. There shouldn't be any torque xferred to the front in 2H.

Some guys on alt.truck.ford suggested that it might be brake related. I didn't think so because applying the brake didn't impact the squeak. But while inspecting this weekend I noticed the pads were fairly low so I cleaned, greased the caliper slides, and replaced the pads. No change.

Some of these facts point to the wheel bearing... I just have a hard time believing that could be it with only 55k miles. Anyone experienced wheel bearing failure / problems at that mileage?

I guess another possibility is the CV joint. The half shafts turn even in 2H... maybe due to friction in the auto-locking hubs?

Any swags at what might be causing this would be appreciated. Also, if you agree with the wheel bearing or CV joint diagnosis please let me know.


Tom

 

does it squeak when you turn the steering wheel? If it does it ps more than likely the pitman arm.

 

It still squeaks when turning... but also squeaks just going straight. Forward or reverse.

 

Definitely the Pitman Arm - mine squeaked and someone in this forum told me to take a syringe and squirt grease right through the boot - hasn't squeaked since!!

 

Ended up being a u-joint. It was one of the front joints on the rear shaft... sort of in the middle of the truck. That's what deceived me into thinking it was coming from the front.

I actually chased the problem in the right rear before running the truck on jackstands to pinpoint the noise.


Tom