Front End Squeaking?

[2000SLT]

Heyy guys, I have been reading through this forum in search of an answer to my fathers Durango's annoying front end squeak. He has had the truck about 3 years and it developed the horrible squeaking front end after about 3 months. The dealer told me to deal with it when I brought it back and so I replaced the ball joints and all other rubber fittings. after about 2 months it started squeaking at every bump again. Then the balljoints started to wear really wierd and I had to buy a new rack from Dodge and we installed that. I had it in for the recall on the ball joints for the whole wheels falling off thing and the mechanic told me that the queaking is normal. Now I understand that this IS an american made vehicle so I should expect some lower quality parts, but not this over and over. The queaking stopped for a bit when I got it back from the recall repairs, but it recently started up again, now I can almost feel the squeaking in the wheel when i turn and hit a bump. Im hopeing that one of you guru's of the Dodge Trucks can lend me some advice here. Thanks -Dan

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[IndyDurango]

Front end squeek is the sway bar and the sway bar bushings. 99.999%

IndyD

[2000SLT]

ok thanks, I guess that I will change them again

-Dan

[deerang]

I have the same problem. I'm just clarifying here. U say to change both the sway bar, as well as the bushings??

[IndyDurango]

ORIGINAL: deerang

I have the same problem. I'm just clarifying here. U say to change both the sway bar, as well as the bushings??

Not quite.

Since you will basically have the unit out, the Hotchkis Performance Products replacement sway is superior to the OEM and the bushings that come with it are superior to new OEM bushings. The ride will improve greatly as the squeaks go away.

-or-

You can go back in with another set of inferior OEM bushings and you will be back at fixing the squeaks after a while without the improved ride and handling of the Hotchkis.

HTH,

IndyDurango

[deerang]

I'm assuming that you have used the Hotchkis performance upgrade and are satisfied with it. How much did It cost, and can I do the instal myself at home?

[IndyDurango]

Cheapest place to get them is at Summitracing.com. They are the best available. Install isn't easy, but not hard either. The front tires need to be under pressure (IE on the ground or on ramps) to get it all right. Plan for a Saturday and good luck.

IndyD

[Kensai]

Mine did the same thing. Except for my rubber bushings were still in good shape, just a little dry. Dropped the swaybar and then applied some silicone grease on the bushings and then re-installed the swaybar. No more squeaks.

[RebelX]

i know hotchkis is prolly the best way to go. but what about this? http://www.p-s-t.com/truck/tvfekpg.html its a High Performance Polygraphite® Front End Kit, for a durango 4x4. it includes
Typical 2WD or 4WD Ball Joint type Front End Kit includes:
2 Upper Ball Joints
2 Lower Ball Joints
2 Outer Tie Rod Ends
4 Upper Inner Bushings
2 or 4 Lower Inner Bushings (as required)
2 Strut Rod Bushings (as required)
2 Stabilizer Links*
2 Sway Bar Bushings**
Control Arm Bumpers (most models)
*Trucks with conventional bolt type Stabilizer Links.
**Trucks with conventional "U" shaped brackets.


the whole kit runs about $210. any ideas if its a good bet or not?

im asking because i have the front squeak as well. plus my balljoints are starting to wear too.

forgot to add that the website doesn't show the 4x4. just the 2x4. i have the catalog n can scan the page if needed.

[hydrashocker]

Polyurethane is the best bushings in my opinion. The steal does help. But if you want to do it cheap just replace the bushings with Polyurethane and clean everything up good. Replace what you have to.