Hi All,

Within the last week my right front corner has started sounding like an old leaf spring pickup. Over rough road there is a reasonably high pitched SQUEEK SQUEEK - SQUEEK SQUEEK. I can get it to squeak in the driveway by just rocking the runner by hand, but can't find -exactly- where the sound is coming from. My runner is a 96, so it's now about 7 years old now. Here are my thoughts:

I know it's not from the sway bars because mine are removed...
Possibly the SAWS, does anyone know if these have any squeak issues..?
Are the A-arm bushings due for changing, if yes top/bottom/front/back or all(or maybe I can just grease them )..?
Does not sound like an a-arm ball joint, any one know if these are prone to squeaking (by the way how do you grease these)..?

Suggestions appreciated, thanks nj

 

I can't really help except that I can say my SAW's have never squeaked. I would look at the upper and lower control arms. Not sure if they could be your culprit but it's worth a shot.

 

I also have this horrible squeak. Its been squeaking for over two months now. Its sooooo loud and annoying. I'm not really sure what to do. The only idea I have is to replace the bushings, but I don't really want to go through with all the trouble. I don't think they are greaseable. You could tap it with a zerk fitting maybe

 

my ATS arms squeek...

 

Well I'm not a 3rd genner but I too have a front-end squeak...when I get my suspension inspected I will have them lube whatever is needed and see if that solves the problem.

Fink

 

Glad to know I'm not the only one with squeaks.

Ryan & Data - Hi guys - you think the extra weight of the winches has anything to do with it. Unfortunately you guys have not solved the squeak either. I'll try lubing stuff that moves, but that leads to another question...

I have heard that WD40 helps to perish rubber, i.e. don't get it on your hoses belts, etc. I would guess this goes for suspension bushings also. Any one know if this is an 'old wives tale' or not, WD40's site says it's "...safe for metal, rubber, wood..."
Any one know of anything better for rubber..?

Thanx

 

I'll probably get the dealership to check it out whenever I take it in to get the elocker looked at. Maybe they can give me some clues on what to do...

 

winch prob has nothing to do with it.

my "squeek" isnt high pitched, its more low pitched and not squeeky or squeely...

it comes and goes too, never for more than a week.

try white lithium greese.

 

I would stay away fron WD-40. Even if it doesn't eat away at the rubber, it's still only a temporary fix because it isn't a gel like lube. Like Ryan said, I would try some white lithium grease because it will actually stay on the part being lubed and will continue keeping the part greased for a much longer period of time. I guess i'm lucky, because I have no squeak whatsoever from my ATS arms or anything else up front

 

Found the problem, bottom mount/heim joint on the SAW's was causing the squeak. Just a little WD40 and it was instantly gone, I suspect the WD will dry out or burn away and it will start again, in which case I will give it a little lithium grease...
I'm really relieved it was not the ball joints on the A-arms, that does not look like an easy 5-min job...

 

wd40 is actually a degreaser. why would you use a degreaser to grease something?

 

Yes you're right, any lubrication from the WD must have evaporated overnight because it didn't last 1 mile before squeaking again. It now had white lithium grease spray from CRC and appears to be squeak free

 

well its been 6.5 years, are you still SQUEAK free?? I no 4rnnr owner but I am hopping I may find a similar solution to my 99 Taco. my front left is squeak absurd, I recently had the FOX coil over struts resealed, thought they may have gone dry----nope, that didnt fix it. I notice though, when I jack the truck and the A-arm assembly hangs free (like when I have removed the struts or tighted the mount bolts -squeak searching) the squeak dissapeared for a day or so.
Any how, what are the SAW's?? Bottom mount/heim?