Chirp sound coming from front end

Hey there, everyone. Wondering if you all might have an idea what this super annoying chirp sound might be that seems to be coming from my front end. I attached a YouTube link to a video where you can hear the chirp.

The truck has 226k on it. 2002 5VZ 3.4L automatic.

The truck is running fantastic, just has this freaking god awful chirp. Volume knob… I know.

Few things:

- it’s only present when the truck is vibrating, like over bumps and uneven surfaces. No chirp at all on smooth surfaces, nothing when turning.

- I jacked the truck up and shook around everywhere and can’t replicate the sound.

- every aspect of my exhaust seems to be tight, including the heat shield.

- I’ve recently replaced my lower ball joints, outer tie rods, sway bar end links, sway bar bushings, steering rack bushings,
and got new shocks front and back along with new leaf springs. The chirp sound was there before all of these replacements and is still there.

- greased my spiders, slide yolk, and cardan joint on the propeller shafts.

- u-joints were replaced a few years ago and seem fine. Carrier bearing seems fine.

- replaced the gear oil in both differentials and the transfer case.

- lubricated every bushing that I could find front to back with lithium grease.

- lowered and tightened up my spare.

- removed my skid plate.

- checked my hood, hood latch, and the rubber dampeners the hood rests on (or whatever they’re called) and all that seems fine. Lubricated those points of contact as well.

- everything seems locked down in the engine bay as far as I can tell.

- belts were replaced at 200k.

I’m pretty much at a loss and about ready to take it in for a diagnostic. Hoping some of you out there may have some input on what I can tackle before bringing it in.

Thanks so much, really grateful for this awesome community!

 

With such a thorough list, you also did what you could to eliminate anything inside the cab, correct? That's what it sounds like to me, but don't have the benefit of hearing where it's coming from.

 

My only though is hit the u-joints with some grease

 

I've heard almost the exact same sound coming from the two front sway bar bushings...
even after using the silicone grease, which is what they say you have to use on the energy suspension ones......guess that bar in front has a lot of movement on those two bushings...

In my case it went away after 3 or 4 hundred miles...

And it was very noticeable at low speeds on rough roads...kinda pissed me off because I did everything as told to do...

1000% certain it was those....because I usually do one thing at a time.....instead of trying to cram in a bunch of stuff at once.....lessons learned...

may not be your case.....but reminds me I need to inspect those for wear....since I'm about a year out on those...

 

Definitely checked around the cab, but haven’t located anything loose.

U-joints got greased just last week…

I recently installed the same exact energy suspension sway bar bushings and greased them up really well. The darn chirp was there before and after the replacement.

The chirp sounds like it’s coming most predominately from the steering column area or the front driver side wheel area. It’s really hard to pinpoint exactly though.

 

Only other place I could think of is maybe those new shocks are squeaky until they break in a little...

maybe inspect the rods and seals on those....maybe even put a little a dab of dry lube there...

as far as wild guesses....I wouldnt think it was anything you didnt touch or replace...
and all of sudden lets loose...

You might be able to loosen up those two brackets a little and see if it goes away or dies down..



but yeah mine squeaked from day one after I put them on......
I got busy at work.....so I didnt do anything.......and it just went away...

the c brackets that came with mine have grease zerts....but I dont have any silicone that will fit a full size gun......and if they did....it would probably be like $40 or something ridiculous....

All I have is a little 3oz squeeze tube silicone for plumbing from Lowe's.....
and there's no way that would over come these zerts....
plus I'd have to drill a hole through the bushings for a feed channel..

If someone has a better way.......I'm all ears.....I'll give you a 'like'.....

 

Can you replicate it by pushing down (with your body weight), on either front corner of the truck?

I had a similar issue and it turned out to be my UCA bushings. Sprayed them with a bit of white lithium grease and they've been quiet for months since.

 

As far as shocks go, the chirp was there prior to the replacement and is still there after. Was hoping the new shocks would alleviate it, but no…

Glad you figured out your issue with the UCA bushings. I’ve jacked it up and shaken it from every angle and can’t replicate the sound. It could possibly be my UCA bushings as the upper control arms are old, however I did heavily spray them down with lithium grease (multiple times over a couple weeks) and it had no effect.

I talked to one mechanic briefly who mentioned it could be upper control arms or upper ball joints, which it very well could be as those are old. He also said you wouldn’t be able to replicate the sound jacked up, and that it would have to be on a lift to really test it. I haven’t been able to get it on a lift yet. I did a bunch of YouTube research on signs of those parts failing and they don’t really apply to my situation as far as I can tell. My steering and suspension at all speeds feels fine.

 

Did u by chance do your body bushings? I completely redid my front end bushings and got rid of 80% of my noises… then I did my body (cab) bushings and I’d say pretty much all my annoying noises are gone. Everything was done with Energy Suspension bushings and I bought a big tub of their grease and I sure did slather it on there.
Good luck man!

 

I haven’t done the body bushings! I’ve come across that a few times online, but it’s always in reference to 2nd and 3rd gens.

If you have any leads on how to replace those I’d love to give that a shot next! I’ll do some more research online and see what I can come up with. Maybe the process for the other generations are really similar to the first gen.

Really appreciate the advice!

 

For body, uca, lca, and that torsion bar on the 5 lugs.....I would not use the poly bushings....

I would stick with the original rubbers....for comfort....

on all the rest of em I went for the max life of the E.S. polyurethanes...

except for the steering rack.....those I got those kinda expensive blue 'Prothane' ones, that are made and imported from Australia, I believe those are the best in the world....and evidently from their price....they do too...

 

Just listened again, it still sounds to me like something lightweight vibrating. Example, I have one of those in my dash around the glovebox area, pretty sure it's a heater duct that lost it's padding or something, it's not as loud but I hear about it every time the wife rides shotgun. :-\

 

Haha same deal with me. Anytime I have friends in the truck all I can hear is the freakin chirp

 

May have missed it but didn’t see UCA or LCA bushings mentioned.

 

Those could be the culprit… those haven’t been replaced. I did coat them with lithium grease super well multiple times and heard no change at all though. Still, could be…

 

My guess is sway bar links

I had VERY similar sound in which I couldn’t replicate if vehicle not in motion
This pointed out by a friend….
I recently worked on front end
One side, the sway bar link bolt not tight(I only hand tightened)
No more noise after putting wrench to it
GL

 

I recently replaced the sway bar end links and the chirp was there prior and after. I’ll check them again and make sure they’re tight though!

 

There are inner tie rod ends that come off the end of the steering rack under the boot, check them.

 

Sway bar is pretty quick to completely remove, might wanna consider taking it off and then test drive. If the noise is still there you know for sure it's not the sway bar.

 

Believe me
I felt like a total idiot once I saw the loose bolt
I was just glad noise gone