ejiii

Greetings Everyone,

I have been chasing a front suspension noise I just can't nail down.
My truck is a 1996 F150, 2WD, XL, 4.9L, A/T, regular cab with 67K miles.
The noise sounds like a body creak or "stiction", like something binding.
It happens all the time while driving on almost any surface. It does not
matter if the engine or air temps are hot or cold. It seem like it is coming from the driver's side. You can feel it in your feet as you drive. I can recreate it easily, if I drive at slow speeds and apply the brakes to compress
the suspension slightly then accelerate slightly I can get it to creak over and over as the suspension decompresses.

All the rubber on the truck was rotted so here is what has been done:
Replace I-beam/axle bushings, stabilizer bushings-all of them front/rear, radius rod bushings and all the body bushings. All the bushings are polyethylene. The original shocks were wasted so I installed Bilsteins. The outer tie-rod ends were also worn and replaced.

I'm open to suggestions, HELP!

Thanks in advance.

92torquemonster

have you checked your ball joints? it could be body mounts as well

ejiii

All the body mounts were replaced 2 weeks ago. The ball joints were checked by a good alignment shop about 1500 miles ago. They were all OK.

I need to get a Steelman Chassis Ear or tie myself under the truck while someone drives around to see if I can nail this one down!

robs95ford

I have the same problem with my 1995 F-150! Mine is creaking and "poping" especially when I compress my brakes to stop and when I turn my truck around a corner at a slow speed.

I may take it to a friend at a body shop and see if he can identify where it is coming from/??????

I too have replaced all front end parts.

................go figure.

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

It could be the springs rubbing in the spring pockets.

thejon2524

turn the radio up and the noise will go away

ejiii

I may be on to something. Yesterday I heavily silicone sprayed the stabilizer bar link bushings which seems to have decreased the noise. The new bushings are MOOG polyethylene and they are installed as a split bushing (2 piece), 1/2 of the bushing slides into one side of the link the other 1/2 slides in from the opposite side then the steel center collar is pushed through the center. The original bushings were pressed in. Anyway, today I resprayed them and will see if that helps any further. If it does, I will take the link apart and lube the bushings with DC111 and see if that does the final trick.

robs95ford

ejiii, let me know how you do and I will try some of the same!

PhatTonyDeMarco

I would still suspect the ball joints. Just jack the truck up and give the front wheels a good shaking, with your hands grabbing across from each other at 9 and 3. If they pivot then your joints are bad.

ejiii

Well, ball joints may be the answer. Silicone spray really did not help when it's all said and done. I will grease the link bushings with DC111 because it's easy and free. After that I'm off to the front end shop or an estimate.