Front End creaks after offroading

This is funny because I've actually been dealing with a fairly similar situation! Started getting a creaking noise while turning the wheel 10-15 degrees and have been chasing it down all week. No feedback in the wheel, no load on the engine, no vibration, nothing besides the terrible noise. Turned out the bushings on my rack were worn out and the whole rack was moving, so replaced those bushings and discovered the bolt through the rack and frame rail was bent, so replaced that too. Figured that would fix the problem. Nope, the noise only got worst! Finally had some help me today and discovered that the bushings on my year old Moog LCAs have crapped out and the arm is moving a little bit, so there was my noise! And there goes my next weekend haha.

 

One possible exception. Improper torquing. If the suspension parts that move in rubber are torqued while in full droop, the bushings can/will bind and eventually tear themselves up.

Torquing of those components should be done in compression.

If the noise is occurring during steering it would be good to examine any couplings / joints in the steering shaft. If lube stops the noise, the coupling is likely best to be replaced.

 

I've been quite happy with my ES poly bushings for the rear. I installed them like 6 or 7 years ago and literally haven't touched them since. They haven't seen a ton of wheeling (by some standards) in that time, but they definitely don't squeak. Stock leafs though...

 

Torquing should be done at ride height. A lot of people don't do that when they're tossing in taller springs/shocks.

I was helping a friend install my old lifted 5100s and he was trying to avoid loosening the adjuster bolts. He wanted to use a bottle jack to force the control arm down. Loosening the adjuster bolts not only makes installing the loner shocks WAY easier, but it also forces you to re-tighten them. Hopefully it's done at right height, and not at full droop like you said.

 

You didn't read any part of this thread did you?

I was thinking of spraying some kind of lubricant where the UCA bushings are, but as I mentioned earlier...they may be the culprit even though they never creaked or anything prior to going off road.

LCA bushings on mine are new, and everything's nice and tight.

Used the grease Whiteline provides.

That's true.

Fortunately everything was torqued at ride height.

Just wanted to get an idea of what other items need lubricating that I'm unaware of.

I should grab my go pro from storage and attach it underneath; I'll do that next week.

 

I forgot to add to today's initial post; when I removed the skid plates, I later pressure washed the entire underside of the vehicle.

 

could be your UBJs if the boots are torn and got mud/dirt in them. Mine made a horrific squeak when turning the wheel after getting too much mud in them. I hosed them out and greased them up through the torn boot hole, which shut them up, but they need to be replaced because now I'm hearing a clunk every now and then..

 

I would pull the strut out and separate the UBJ so you can diagnose the UCA and LCA separately. Just because you have new LCA bushings doesn't mean they aren't squeaky, especially for poly ones

 

Sell it

 

Just to add -

I too am having an intermittent noise issue from the front. Most noticeable when compressing slightly on the right front, transitioning from street to driveway or going over speed bumps. I suspect its the OME lower shock mount bushing. I know its not the UCA since those have been replaced with SPCs.

 

Thanks for the recommendations on other things to look out for.

To be fair, these last 2 days off were spent outdoors and I only spent a good hour on my truck pressure washing things and looking underneath.

 

Ive heard those rope hooks make noise?

 

Good thing you've got a third gen; we've got real problems

 

I haven't driven my truck since last week after I pressure washed all the dirt and grime off.

Today, I sprayed the top of the springs with P'Blaster Dry Lubricant with Teflon.

Bolted on the skid plates, and decided to take the truck back to the car wash; I had simple green with me and wanted to get the dirt stuck in the wheel wells and frame.

Well on the way there, and back, there was absolutely no creak up front!

Rear still squeaked but the front seems to be silent again.

Maybe the front springs were rubbing against the collar?

 

My 2003 is creaking like mad, up front and the back. New frame a cpl years ago, new springs and i installed 5100’s.
I sprayed all the pivot points, a arms, spring connections with wd40 specialty dry lube this week and it quieted it all down significantly.

But I believe the drive shaft needs replaced along with carrier bearing - As it still creaks a bit under load.

Probably needs new LBJ and a rack with TRE as its at 194k.

 

Oddly enough after I went offroading last weekend, my front end stopped creaking haha. Probably just a fluke though and I'm sure it'll be back soon, I'm confident my LCA bushings on the driver's side at least need to be replaced.

 

Still haven't done it?

Mod party at your place; I need my brakes done still...

Still have my LCA's that I removed from my truck; just need to put some new bushings in and they're ready for install!

 

I have such a long list I dunno where to start lol

 

As I do!

Tie rod ends
Upper control arm bushings (or arms altogether)
Upper ball joints if I forgo replacing the arms
Steering rack bushings
Removing my ditch lights and wiring
Installing my Powertank bracket in the bed