Tempermental

The front end is squeaking something fierce when I turn left or right and I can also get some clunks ,squeaks from bouncing the front end -
I've posted a 30 sec bad quality vid on youtube -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AIjExZT1Oc

Thoughts?

NoVector

I'm guessing upper or lower ball joints. I'd look to see if the rubber boots are torn and if the socket is dry. If they are torn, squirt some WD-40 in there and then try your bounce test again. If the squeak stops, you found your problem.

BTW: WD-40 does not fix the problem

Chuck Schreiber

Do you have poly swaybar bushings? Could be that for sure.

Also, could be upper or lower control arm bushings. Someone posted a while back and said to spray with wd-40 and it would actually penetrate down into the bushings eliminating any squeeks. Can someone verify this??

Tempermental

Thanks NoVector

Upper boots torn, looks like about to separate , lowers looks fine

Sprayed SeaFoams Deep Creep all over everything (no Wd-40 in stock -love this stuff, lubricates, fogs, penetrates ;smells better than Pb blaster) and it DID lessen the bounce squeaks

But it continues to scrEEEEech when I turn

Thanks Chuck

No poly swaybar bushings -but interesting that you would say that as the weekend before Thanksgiving I had the front end up on ramps and found the sway bar end links completely loose (I kept hearing a slight rattling) -jeez no wonder the front end got squirrely at speed So I tightened things up and thought I was good to go.

I've put almost 800 miles on it since -sometimes a little spirited -so I guess I should have left the sway bar loose (I'll be replacing lots of stuff, I know)

I'll spray up the steering knuckle and see if that changes anything. I'll post pics of the suspension component rubber tonight or tomorrow

Mongo

Hi Tempermental,

I've hotlinked your youtube video in below so no one has to click the link. Could your steering be going soon?

VehiGAZ

I get that same sound at low speeds over speed bumps and such, as I recently posted.

I have not had a chance to do any of the checks suggested, so I may just bring it in to the shop and let them have at it. Or maybe just spray some lithium grease in there...

I have new steering rack bushings, so I am pretty sure it is the suspension, not the steering.

Silver79

I would probably start by rebuilding the upper ball joints first and see what it sounds like after that. What do the tie rod ends boots look like? Is there any play in the tie rods?

Tempermental

Thanks for the responses - I just got back from an open bar wedding - no pics tonight but tomorrow for sure :0

Thanks Mongo -didn't know you could embed - I'll get new batteries and take pics/video tomorrow

-Silver79 the funny thing is I WAS so sure at 1st this was outer tie rods -they look beautiful - pics tomorrow.

-VehiGaz --my wife was screaming at me when she looked at the screen and saw your avatar -(god I miss smoking everytime I see it
I missed your post but I'll say I have to replace everything like everybody else here with a 27+ yr old car --its also because it sat a year and I drove the %^*#%&(*$% out of it not knowing any better ( or thats the only way you find problems
I hate to retire it for the winter but it's looking like I'll be crawlin under jack stands before xmas

NoVector

FWIW - If you get in there and start rooting around, I thought Tony's web site was an excellent reference.
http://members.rennlist.com/v1uhoh/lowera.htm

I was a victim of the PO using grease to fix his squeak problem. I guess he just sprayed it everywhere