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Ford F-150: Why is My Frame Squeaking?

From the suspension to the truck bed itself, there are many moving parts on your Ford F-150 truck, all of which could cause an annoying squeak.

By Anthony Alaniz - October 30, 2014

This article applies to the Ford F-150 (2004-2014).

Your Ford F-150 has many components that can cause your frame to squeak, including the suspension you drive on, the truck's bed, or simply anything attached to your truck's body. Below is a list of several things that could be causing that squeaky frame.

Materials

  • Rubber hammer
  • Crowbar
  • Spray lubricant

Step 1 - Check the shocks

Shocks take a lot of force dealing with potholed roads and the rigors of daily use. Whether it's the shock tower itself or one of the bushings that connects it to the truck, shocks can wear out and cause noise. First, make sure the truck sits evenly on the ground. Then try to push the truck down and let it bounce; if it stops right away, your shocks are in good condition. If it keeps bouncing, your shocks are going bad. Visually check for any leaks on your shocks, too.

(Related Article: Why is My Truck Bouncing - Ford-trucks.com)

Figure 1. Check your shocks.

Step 2 - Check and tighten the bed bolts

Find the bolts that secure the bed to the frame and inspect them for rust. If they are rusty, replace them; if they are loose, use a wrench to tighten them.

Figure 2. Tighten bed bolts with wrench.

Step 3 - Check the leaf springs

Inspect the leaf springs and spray them with grease or another lubricant. Check the bolts on the springs and make sure they are tightened to the correct torque specification.

(Related Article: How to Add a Leaf to Leaf Springs - Ford-trucks.com)

Figure 3. Lubricate and tighten the leaf springs.

Step 4 - Check the bushings

Dirt and debris can damage bushings and wear them out, which can cause metal-on-metal squeaks. Numerous bushings are located throughout the truck. The five body/frame bushings can certainly be one culprit. But each suspension part, including the sway arm, is armed with bushings. Be sure to Inspect the bushings for cracks as seen in the image below. Spray all bushings with a lubricant, which will stop the squeaking in the short term, but the bushings will continue to wear down and require replacing sooner rather than later.

Figure 4. Inspect bushings for dirt, debris, and cracks.

Featured Video: How To Replace Sway Bar Bushings and End Links

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