the squeaks!

[James34683]

im sure most of you know what I mean by the squeaks but lately my truck has been squeaking horrible over the smallest bumps and the steering is actually beginning to squeak when I turn slowly. its extremely irritating ...

hoping there is a simple cure to ride of my squeaks plz help

thankyou

 

[Earl43P]

If I had to guess without hearing it, I'd say your lower ball joints are shot.

Turn the front tires enough to get your head in there and have someone bounce the front end. You'll hear it.

 

[straycat]

Tie rod ends!!!! But the noise, is it coming from the rear or the front? My rear leafs squeal about twice a year. I just lube them and they are fine for a long time.

 

[adsm08]

Earl has some good advice there. Go buy a cheap automotive stethoscope, and hop under there with your head while someone bounces up and down on the front and poke stuff with the scope. I just had a 98 Explorer (same front as yours) with literally your exact symptoms. It was bad control arm bushings.

 

[James34683]

well my ball joints are fine the previous owner replaced them before he sold the truck to me but I noticed that he did not press one of the bushings in well enough and it has some play to it and im guessing that some dirt got in there and its squeakin so im gonna try and grease that up and seal it somehow

I also need new sway bar bushings and its causing a rattle

thanks guys

 

[JohnnyO]

Ball joint(s).