How to check suspension / order of replacement?

[sheliable]

My 2002 ranger xlt 2wd is making creaking noises from under the wheel well when I turn the wheel, go over bumps, or shake / bounce the vehicle with my hands. When i say "when i turn the wheel" i dont mean its a power stearing issue, its a creaking noise like theres a suspension part going bad. Sway bar or something.

Here's a video to give you an idea:

IMG_0113.MOV

drive.google.com

How do I check the suspension or should I replace certain parts in a certain order until things seem good? I am pretty mechanically inclined when it comes to being able to replace these kinda parts. My dad had me helping with all kinds of stuff like this on our chevy suburbans growing up. Truck has about 103k miles on it.

 

[adsm08]

A creak when turning the wheel, particularly while the vehicle is stationary, is usually a dry ball joint. If you can get someone to work the wheel you can usually feel which one it is by touching the ball joints. You will feel a small vibration from the one causing the noise.

A $12 mechanic's stethoscope can also be extremely useful in tracking down a noise like this.

 

[sheliable]

A creak when turning the wheel, particularly while the vehicle is stationary, is usually a dry ball joint. If you can get someone to work the wheel you can usually feel which one it is by touching the ball joints. You will feel a small vibration from the one causing the noise.

A $12 mechanic's stethoscope can also be extremely useful in tracking down a noise like this.

That were my suspicion. Well pretty damn sure I can tell its coming from the driver side, but while yer replacing one ball joint, may as well replace the other right! What else should I proactively replace while I'm in there?

 

[adsm08]

Not much. Inspect the sway bar links, they are prone to breaking. If you do upper arms it will need aligned, so if you are being proactive that would be the time to do tie rods too. Lower ball joints would not require an alignmemt.