Front end squeak

The car has 105,000 miles on it, all factory shocks and on firm it rides great, no bounce, steering wheel no play, the rubber is old and you can see dry, the swaybar bushings looked bad and I replaced them, the rest doesn't look bad, almost no play in the front wheels but there is a pretty loud squeak in the front and you can hear when going over bumps and when turning the wheel...is there any bushing(s) that this points to? I have been trying for two weeks to hear exactly where but you don't hear it much in the driveway and I can't seem to pinpoint it.

Every time I lube up the front, it's pretty quiet for a few minutes, then squeaks again...wonder if it could be the rubber inserts that are in side the springs, can they be removed or do they serve a necessary purpose?

Unfortunately, it's one of those things that someone has to be there and hear to have any idea.

Does the noise sound like a metal to metal type of squeal? If so, it could be a place where the spring isolators have disintegrated. Or perhaps a mis-installed spring, or even a bad strut.

Does it sound more like a squeaky bed? If so it is most likely an inner shaft bushing.

Take a good look around under the car for any shiny metal where one part might be rubbing another. look for a bent inner frame member, a shifted sway bar, etc.

Lastly, if it only makes a noise at full lock, when going over a bump (like a speed bump, check the turn limiters where the spindle rubs on the lower control arm. A dab of grease here will usually do the trick.

Get a manual and check all ball joints and tie rod ends to ensure they are in good working order, or have a pro take a look at it.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

Sounds like a rubber to metal if I had to guess...

And I have been looking for anything that does not look normal, rubbing, etc...can't see anything, but everytime I hit all the rubber with silicon spray including those rubber thing inside the springs, it's quiet for several minutes, then begins again.

Narrow your search by only spraying one or two things at a time until you find the one that stops the squeak. This approach my take a while, but it will be far less costly.

By the way, I feel your pain. I have a rattle in my dash that I am certain is a loose screw or washer, but I have yet to find it.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

Originally posted by Protouring442:
Narrow your search by only spraying one or two things at a time until you find the one that stops the squeak. This approach my take a while, but it will be far less costly.

By the way, I feel your pain. I have a rattle in my dash that I am certain is a loose screw or washer, but I have yet to find it.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

Hehe turn the volume on your radio up. :-) Just kidding!!

Originally posted by Protouring442:
Narrow your search by only spraying one or two things at a time until you find the one that stops the squeak. This approach my take a while, but it will be far less costly.

By the way, I feel your pain. I have a rattle in my dash that I am certain is a loose screw or washer, but I have yet to find it.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

Good idea Bill...And I feel your pain, I have a plastic squeak in my dash also, think it's plastic against the windshield, but not sure.

Yesterday and today I lubed up all I could see with grease, guess it wasn't those rubber inserts in the springs, it is something in the steering...ya I know that could be anything, it squeaks going over bumps, but on a smooth straight road and just a slight turn on the wheels makes it squeak also, same squeak it sounds, pretty loud and sounds rubber against metal.

I had one of those and it ended up being the upper strut mounts. One of those parts that you really can't see.

steve

i have that same problem with my turbo coupe. same thing, when riding straight she is good but when i slightly turn the wheel or hit small bumps it squeaks.

if you ever find out what it is let me know, im pretty sure it seems like we have the same issue.