Indeed, and no reason the think the poly bushings would be any happier about it.

Maybe some dry lube? Graphite spray? But, it has zerk fittings...... so, one would think they EXPECT folks to grease 'em.......

 

Front end grease; they do prefer the plain lithium ones, true.

It's so that the sway bar rides on grease instead of the poly squeaking.

It also helps contribute to a smoother action, or so they say.

I dunno, it's a TRUCK for crying out loud! But at least it doesn't squeak going down the road.

RwP

 

I can see the dude at the quik lube joint. If he even greases them at all tells me he will care even less as to what he's pumping in them.

 

OK Ralph and Hey You, I really need your experience here. I told you I have that creaking noise going on. And it cant be from all the new stuff I put in (balljoints, tie rods, end links, brakes, bearings).

Here are my observations now that I am trying to focus in on it (the one I discovered tonight is the most interesting). For years now (keep in mind I drive about 4,000 miles per year same as HY), I've had this creaking noise that sounds like it's coming from the front. It is most noticeable when backing out of my garage (I begin turning as soon as the front clears). Also noticeable when I'm in parking lots going in and out of parking spaces, Also when pulling up to a stop sign or accelerating from a stop sign. Sometimes a dip in the road.

I tried something else tonight that has me baffled and I hope it makes sense to you fellas. I'm in my garage, truck running, nice smooth concrete floor (stained with brake fluid). I'm in park and I turn the wheels left, right, back and forth. No creaking or very little. I drop it to neutral. I turn the wheels left, right, back and forth. No creaking or very little. Only when I apply the brake and turn the wheels does the creaking rear its ugly head (in park or neutral). Add to that, the truck shakes from stem to stern while the wheels are turning. More in the back but that might because the back is lighter. Put my hand on the truck and there is no mistaking the vibration while the wheels are turning. I try to listen closely for the location of the noise but it reverberates through the truck to the point that I'm not certain where it is coming from. I look at the control arm bushings (uppers and lowers) and I'm not seeing anything obvious.

Does this add up to anything in your minds?

 

I have had brakes do that kind of thing. The tires do roll a bit when you turn the wheels, whether the truck moves or not, and the rotors slipping in the pads can make some interesting noises. If the noise is still there after changing the pads though..... kinda makes me think that ain't it. Maybe try and put some dry lube into the control arm bushings?

 

I happen to have some PB Blaster Graphite. Question: When control arm bushings make noise is it usually at the end of the bushing where it is most exposed such that lubing the ends would squelch the noise to a degree (and exposing is as the culprit)?

Another thing I should point out. I have reason to believe my sway bar (or perhaps the control arm) might be slightly bent. I say this because the sway bar end link on the left side stands straight up and down like you would expect. But on the right side, the end link is not straight up and down. The top of the right side link is toward the front of the truck relative to the bottom of the link. Not by a lot but noticeable. The upper end link bushings on top are squished off center meaning they are not squared up to the sway bar. I don't know how critical this is but could be a problem. Y'all would know better than I. I'm going to do a deeper inspection today while I have the wheels off and can get a better look, perhaps even make some measurements.

STUPID QUESTION TIME: Is it possible to temporarily remove the end links and try turning the wheels again to see if they still make noise or is that sway bar mandatory to hold up the wheels?

 

Yeah, you can pull the end links, and try turning the wheels. It's just a sway bar. Don't do any 'spirited' driving with it disconnected though.

As for the control arm bushings, get the lube as far into it as you can. Where the squeak/groan originates can vary dramatically.

 

10-4. I think I'll start by removing the end links and then turning the wheels with the brakes applied to see if I hear anything. I'm just wondering if that end link that is out of position is putting undue pressure on the lower control arm.

I'm still unsure of sway bar physics and dynamics. I mean, it connects the two front wheels together but so do the tie rods so it seems repetitive. So just as a guess I'm thinking it has more to do with vertical movement than it does horizontal movement. But what do I know?

 

The sway bar is exactly that. It controls (or, attempts too.....) body roll in corners. Is it absolutely required? Nope. But, it sure makes 'em more pleasant to drive on the roads. Off-road is something else entirely. Then you WANT the front suspension to be able to act independently.

 

It's vertical movement of one side vis the other.

Think of a torsion rod. Or a coil spring uncoiled.

As one side goes up and the other doesn't, it tends to transfer movement (and effective weight!) from one side to the other.

This is also why 4x4s will tend to get SMALLER anti-sway bars; the torsion rods act as a anti-sway bar due to the length of them.

RwP