Suspension issues... dammit

[Goldmember]

Putting it on the lift Tuesday to pinpoint the issue.

Symptoms- when making left or right turns, loud squeak heard from left front. No vibration, but for the first half-turn of the steering wheel a loud squeak is present. Also heard over bumps and when performing the "Bounce Test" (push down on that corner of the car as if checking for a bad strut).

 

[Steven]

Ball joint. 99 percent positive

 

[joekd]

Ball joint and possibly tie rod end as well

 

[Musturd]

Ball joint .. Hope it don't break fix ASAP jack car up and wiggle wheel

 

[Addermk2]

Ball joint .. Hope it don't break fix ASAP jack car up and wiggle wheel

jack the car up from under the control arm, and use a long pry bar under the tire to lift up. see if the ball joints clunk

 

[Goldmember]

I know how to do that test... need to get to my parents' for the equipment though... hope it can hang on a little longer... talk about worst nightmare. Only 77K this shit shouldn't be happening.

 

[Addermk2]

actually, they usually failed around 30k

 

[Goldmember]

30K if you're driving it like a Dukes of Hazzard stunt car. I've had cars with well over 100K that were tight as a drum on original ball joints. My '97 made it to 100K on original ball joints. Whatever the case, driving to work will be an adventure until I can get it fixed

 

[g36 monkey]

I had 195k on original ball joints and tie rod ends, thank God I changed them haha

 

[Goldmember]

^^lol after reading that, thank God you're still with us

Putting it on the lift tomorrow, will report back. If my sister took my Crapsman floor jack back to my parents, I can check it tonight. Playing Roulette sucks lol

 

[g36 monkey]

ha, the best part is they weren't even bad, just changed them since I was in there anyways. Now everything has a nice zerk grease fitting

Best of luck to ye

 

[Goldmember]

Lucked out.

The tie roads and ball joints all tested good, no play in any of them, but the boots were completely collapsed on all of them- dried out. Added grease through the boots and the front end is now silent and solid.

 

[Patin]

Lucked out.

The tie roads and ball joints all tested good, no play in any of them, but the boots were completely collapsed on all of them- dried out. Added grease through the boots and the front end is now silent and solid.

Same issue I had. My ball joints were solid/not worn. But the boots dry rotted and destroyed. Adding grease from he top is going to get old. one water puddle, or just a couple days of driving and they'll be squeaking again.