Front end squeak/noise

[99RangerKrazy]

My front end has been squeaking a bit for about the past week or so. It's not super loud, but enough to annoy the crap out of me. I thought it was just a belt, so I sprayed a ton of WD40 on the belt and pullies. The noise is still there. I can really hear it when I'm just idling down the street at about 20mph, and then again when braking even further. I did do the vacuum hubs fix (mine is a 1999) because the 4WD went out, so now the hubs are permanently locked. I hope I gave enough info but I just can't figure it out. I thought it could be the brake pads but I took off the front tires, checked the pads, cleaned the rotors, and they're fine. So now I'm kind of puzzled.

Just for info

99 Ranger XLT
3.0L 4WD
Automatic

Thanks everyone.

 

[mhughes165]

crank the tunes....you will never get rid of every sound the ranger makes goin down the road, i gave up a long time ago lol

but it almost sounds like a dried out wheelbearing to me

 

[snake]

You need to narrow it down some, is it the brakes, suspension, or driveline? When you cruise the road at 20 MPH is it a constant or intermittent squeak? Try shutting the engine off as you run 20 MPH and see if it goes away- try leaving the engine running and knock it into nuetral. When you hit the brakes, does it go away or get worse? Does it do it with the transfer case engaged and disengaged? You've got to narrow it down before you will get a chance to pinpoint where to start looking next.

 

[99RangerKrazy]

You need to narrow it down some, is it the brakes, suspension, or driveline? When you cruise the road at 20 MPH is it a constant or intermittent squeak? Try shutting the engine off as you run 20 MPH and see if it goes away- try leaving the engine running and knock it into nuetral. When you hit the brakes, does it go away or get worse? Does it do it with the transfer case engaged and disengaged? You've got to narrow it down before you will get a chance to pinpoint where to start looking next.

Ok, it's an intermittent squeak, possibly need my rotors turned. I think I am going to do that today since I'm unsure if it's ever been done. When you hit the brakes it's the same, maybe a little worse. It's also when the transfer case is disengaged.

Last night I took the brake pads off and cleaned the rotors and pads and it's still there. But after reading a little more about it, it sounds like it may be a rotor that is warped in one spot, so it squeaks when the brake pads hit that one spot. I also only hear it on the driver side.

 

[snake]

It should change when you hit the brakes, my guess would be the noise would go away when pressure is applied. All rotors are warped a little, and if it was the rotors actually making the noise, it would make a constant scuff scuff scuff noise, or a constant drag noise- not an intermittent one. I would chase this down a little further before doing unnecessary work to the truck- unless the rotors need turning anyway.

Also, can you make the truck squeak sitting still by rocking it? I'm betting if it is intermittent and a sqeak, that it could be a bushing in the front end somewhere. You could try shooting the rubber bushings with something and test drive it.

 

[99RangerKrazy]

It should change when you hit the brakes, my guess would be the noise would go away when pressure is applied. All rotors are warped a little, and if it was the rotors actually making the noise, it would make a constant scuff scuff scuff noise, or a constant drag noise- not an intermittent one. I would chase this down a little further before doing unnecessary work to the truck- unless the rotors need turning anyway.

Also, can you make the truck squeak sitting still by rocking it? I'm betting if it is intermittent and a sqeak, that it could be a bushing in the front end somewhere. You could try shooting the rubber bushings with something and test drive it.

Yeah it's about the same when pressure is applied, it doesn't go away. I was going to take the rotors down and get them turned today....but I could break the bolts that are holding on the caliper. I could get two of the bolts off so half of the caliper came off, but I couldn't get the bolts off that are holding on the other piece.

EDIT - You CAN hear A noise when you rock it, but the noise you hear is coming from the rear end....but when I drive it sounds like it's coming from the front end. I WD40'd the crap out of everything underneath....I'm just going to turn the radio up haha