Mystery Sound

[Bigt5646]

Hi all,
So my 05 sport has started making a new noise from the drivers side front. Im not sure whether to describe it as a creak or as a metal on metal rubbing sort of sound but I will post a YouTube link so y'all can check it out. This is a noise I've been chasing for almost a year now but after our last rain storm it got signifcantly louder and more obnoxious. I had it up on the rack for about an hour and a half yesterday and I could not duplicate the noise. I've never been able to replicate the noise while the car is stationary. It has to be moving.

I decided to drop it off at a local front end specialist and I just got the car back and he told me the same thing. Cant duplicate on the rack but he hears the noise. I asked him to make sure everything was torqued to spec. 135 pounds for the lower control arm bolts, etc, etc, and he did. He told me we will have to wait for it to get worse but my OCD will simply not allow it.

I guess more so than anything I would like to hear what everyone thinks could be a possibility? She has a 175,000 miles so I understand it could just be a noise that has developed from old age, but I would like to at least know what the sound might be. I went buck wild with some silicone based lube and it didn't make a difference.

I recently changed the sway bar bushings front and rear. I replaced the UCA's with OME and I did my LCA's about 2 years ago but Im afraid I bought junk stuff from advanced auto. Made sure the dust shields are away from the wheel. Checked the jack and the spare tire just to be thorough but everything is good. It drives great and eats bumps like a champ but this sound makes me think thats its something with the strut or the coil. Any place to start or any home remedies to try would be super helpful and appreciated.

Cheers

Mystery Sound - YouTube

 

[OopsIBrokeIt]

I'm absolutely not a pro, but that sounds a lot like either the springs creaking, or the strut mount/bearing wearing out.

I haven't personally had this happen on the 4R since I replaced most of it as soon as I bought the truck, but it has happened on other vehicles.

 

[cbelisle]

i'd guess a bad bushing in the LCA or UCA. or sway bar bushing. something to do with the suspension

 

[MikeinNH67]

I've had a dried out lower ball joint sound like that. Proved it by forcing some lube behind the boot.

 

[Bigt5646]

I've had a dried out lower ball joint sound like that. Proved it by forcing some lube behind the boot.

Did you just use a grease needle? And what kind of grease?

 

[MikeinNH67]

Did you just use a grease needle? And what kind of grease?

No, just the red straw with a lube can like wd40. Didn't have a grease needle at the time. Now I do and that may work but don't think it would quiet down as quickly as something thinner.

 

[Bigt5646]

No, just the red straw with a lube can like wd40. Didn't have a grease needle at the time. Now I do and that may work but don't think it would quiet down as quickly as something thinner.

I will give it a go this afternoon. Appreciate it

 

[Bigt5646]

I'm absolutely not a pro, but that sounds a lot like either the springs creaking, or the strut mount/bearing wearing out.

I haven't personally had this happen on the 4R since I replaced most of it as soon as I bought the truck, but it has happened on other vehicles.

Its always felt suspension related to me as well. Could it just be an age think? I took all the oem suspension stuff off after the x reas failed and just went with the Eibach pro sport truck lift. It’s been good but I’ll be a little bummed if the strut is failing already. I only scooped because of the Black Friday deal a few years back. It was a good deal for the set but I can’t say that it rides any better than 5100”s.

 

[Iparker]

I’ve got something that sounds the same but only occurs on the passenger side on a hard compression. Removed skid plate and sway bar, still there. Overhauled lower control arms with OEM bushings and Japanese made lower ball joint. Replaced outer steering ball joints. Still there. Checked torque the best I could on the alignment bolts holding the LCA in place and hit them with anti-seize. Checked UCA bolts and tried putting some lithium grease in there. I have the upgraded UCA, can’t remember name, but they are red. Hit the UCA nipples with a grease gun. Replaced cv axles with OEM. Still there. Sounds like it’s right front for sure. Could be spare tire, but I highly doubt it. Thinking perhaps it’s the ball joint in the aftermarket UCA. I’ve had the front end apart so many times and it’s hard to replicate on jack stands. Really an OCD thing, but I hate to give up. Maybe try the UCA ball joints? It’s one of the last things on my list and my sound is very similar.

 

[Bigt5646]

I’ve got something that sounds the same but only occurs on the passenger side on a hard compression. Removed skid plate and sway bar, still there. Overhauled lower control arms with OEM bushings and Japanese made lower ball joint. Replaced outer steering ball joints. Still there. Checked torque the best I could on the alignment bolts holding the LCA in place and hit them with anti-seize. Checked UCA bolts and tried putting some lithium grease in there. I have the upgraded UCA, can’t remember name, but they are red. Hit the UCA nipples with a grease gun. Replaced cv axles with OEM. Still there. Sounds like it’s right front for sure. Could be spare tire, but I highly doubt it. Thinking perhaps it’s the ball joint in the aftermarket UCA. I’ve had the front end apart so many times and it’s hard to replicate on jack stands. Really an OCD thing, but I hate to give up. Maybe try the UCA ball joints? It’s one of the last things on my list and my sound is very similar.

So I just replaced my UCA’s about 3 weeks ago but I did pump a few pumps of grease into each one and the ball joints look full and plump but I will try again. Good to know someone else has had a similar issue. I’m pretty much in the same boat. I’ve pretty much replaced the entire front end and this point outside of the rack and pinion.

 

[Bigt5646]

I’ve got something that sounds the same but only occurs on the passenger side on a hard compression. Removed skid plate and sway bar, still there. Overhauled lower control arms with OEM bushings and Japanese made lower ball joint. Replaced outer steering ball joints. Still there. Checked torque the best I could on the alignment bolts holding the LCA in place and hit them with anti-seize. Checked UCA bolts and tried putting some lithium grease in there. I have the upgraded UCA, can’t remember name, but they are red. Hit the UCA nipples with a grease gun. Replaced cv axles with OEM. Still there. Sounds like it’s right front for sure. Could be spare tire, but I highly doubt it. Thinking perhaps it’s the ball joint in the aftermarket UCA. I’ve had the front end apart so many times and it’s hard to replicate on jack stands. Really an OCD thing, but I hate to give up. Maybe try the UCA ball joints? It’s one of the last things on my list and my sound is very similar.

I have Old Man Emu UCA 0004 to be exact so the ball joints also have a grease nipple. I know some people have reported the driver side ball joint has an issue accepting new grease but when I pumped new grease in there I could see grease coming out the bottom so I figured they were good.
It’s just an embarrassing ass noise honestly.

 

[Iparker]

I hit all of the UCA grease nipples including the ball joint, and the noise was still there, but perhaps the grease is not properly spreading out?

 

[Bigt5646]

I’ve got something that sounds the same but only occurs on the passenger side on a hard compression. Removed skid plate and sway bar, still there. Overhauled lower control arms with OEM bushings and Japanese made lower ball joint. Replaced outer steering ball joints. Still there. Checked torque the best I could on the alignment bolts holding the LCA in place and hit them with anti-seize. Checked UCA bolts and tried putting some lithium grease in there. I have the upgraded UCA, can’t remember name, but they are red. Hit the UCA nipples with a grease gun. Replaced cv axles with OEM. Still there. Sounds like it’s right front for sure. Could be spare tire, but I highly doubt it. Thinking perhaps it’s the ball joint in the aftermarket UCA. I’ve had the front end apart so many times and it’s hard to replicate on jack stands. Really an OCD thing, but I hate to give up. Maybe try the UCA ball joints? It’s one of the last things on my list and my sound is very similar.

I hit all of the UCA grease nipples including the ball joint, and the noise was still there, but perhaps the grease is not properly spreading out?

I would imagine if you filled the boot, the grease would reach everywhere it needs too. I personally don’t feel that it’s the upper control arms I think it’s either the strut/spring or the lower control arms based on age. Old Man Emu hasn’t let me down yet so I think what I’ll end up doing is swapping my lower control arms for an OEM set. I had this sound prior to swapping UCA’s but back then I really had to jar the front end to hear it.

I’ll cut the old boots open once I get them off and see how much grease was left in the lbj’s.