Within the last ~3K miles I replaced both front & lower BJ's, installed BJ spacers, front swaybar end links, and installed OME front shocks. A couple days ago I noticed I have a rather annoying creek/squeak coming from the front end. It is present when just turning the wheel back and forth, and while the suspension is working driving down the road. I suppose it is possible the noise was present before the recent work, but I doubt it.
Could a new BJ or the new shocks be causing this? I rechecked and confirmed everything is tight. The truck drives nice and tight, so I am at a loss on the origin of the noise. Could the slight lift cause premature wear on the other bushings? 93 4Runner, 5-speed, 4WD, 160K.
Thanks,
Chris

*edit- I swear I can spell... I can't edit the title. Squeak/Creek

 

Anyone have any thoughts? I'm really stumped.

 

have a buddy turn the wheels, and listen for the squeak. Chances are its the Idler or Pitman arms causing the squeak.

 

Thanks Deathcougar - although it makes the noise when driving straight, would the idler or pitman not be effected? Also, the wheel it tight up/down and side/side. Isn't that an indication of a worn out idler or pitman.
I will check out what you recommended in the mean time.
Thanks

 

Might be the lift has shifted the suspension into a new position where something is rubbing that did not before the lift. See if you can isolate where the noise is coming from. Figure out if you can find something to duplicate the noise standing still and then poke around underneath to find it.

 

Might check your sway bar ends. The bushings were worn off mine and caused a front-end squeak similar to what you're describing.

 

MTNGoat - I replaced the sway bar end links with the suspension rebuild. Could the angle change with the lift cause the sway bar bushings to squeak?
Also would the sway bar bushings squeak with the truck stopped and just turning the wheel? Could "bad" ball joints cause squeaking? I would hate to think they are bad, since I just replaced them.

 

Did you have an alignment performed? The camber and caster adjusting eccentrics could be loose on the lower control arms. I have seen quite a few trucks and 4Runners where it seems that the lower control arm mounting ears are spreading apart and I have to torque them an ungodly amount. My '88 Runner works its way loose sometimes and makes a creaking/popping type noise when going over bumps and dips

 

Yes, I had an alignment performed immediately following the install. I removed the wheels this past weekend and checked everything I could think of. Everything seemed tight and in order. I just can't help think the noise is related to all the recent work done.

 

When those eccentrics are loose, they are loose in a different sense... I'm talking I had to put a cheater pipe on top of my three foot long breaker bar to tighten them, so they were initially pretty tight, but needed that extra cheater pipe to tighten em up.

 

I will take a look at it this weekend. Thanks for the tips, I will let everyone know what I find.

 

lots of things move that you dont think do. check and grease and clean EVERYTHING and also check clearance around things that move.

 

Is the steering at full-lock and is the suspension oscillating over a bump at the time?


Later 4WDs had plastic covers on the steering stopper bolt heads... Maybe they've come off?

 

No, its not he steering stops. I grease them every once in a while. This creeks while standing still and just turning the wheel back and forth.

 

Had a similar annoying squeak when I put all new poly bushings into the suspension on a different rig, also added new shocks at the time. I could sit still with the engine running and turn the wheel left and right and got a noise every time. Turns out it was the new bushings in the leaf springs flexing a little. I ended up installing bolts with zerks in them for greasing the bushings. Might be that your new bushings (in the shocks) are making the noise. Heck it might be that you just tightened up everything with all the new goodies and it'll take some time to break in.

Probably won't help but thought I'd post up just in case.

(I know you don't have leaves in the front but that's where my noise was coming from)

 

Thanks Junkers. Maybe it is the new bushings. Can I lube them somehow? If so with that would be the best type? Thanks