This problem has gotten worse over the past two days, but my drivers side when forced up and down, or hitting ANY kind of decent size bump will sound like an old door hinge being opened and closed constantly until the cabin balances out.

The ball joints from what I can tell, at least the upper looks rough, but the bottom one has been re greased with grease filling, and has no sign of leaks, but any time I hit a bump....oh man is it annoying.

The sway bar and it's bushings look rather new, so I don't think it could be the sway bar, the sound only happens over bumps, not turning, and the sound is barely audible if I force the cab up and down when the wheels are turned, only when wheels are straight is it as loud as can be.

I have yet to take it to a mechanic to have it looked at, but I am going to do so soon, does it sound like it's my ball joints? And if so anyone have an average cost of what it might cost to get them done by a mechanic?

 

I had terrible ball joint squeak when mine went bad. Turning the wheels in either direction would cause the squeak, hitting bumps, if I rocked the cab enough they would squeak...

I had a video of it but don't anymore...

Ball joints usually run around $50 a piece for the average brand, shops time maybe $45 an hour or so.

Looking at least $200 for new BJ's top and bottom, plus labor charges. I'd guess between $200-$300 in labor, depending on the shop.

 

Have no clue if your vehicle is 2 or 4 wheel drive(fill out vehicle info in profile so we will know) so hard to calculate cost.
Just had uppers done today on 96 2 wheel drive .89 hrs at $60.00 hr.

Dave

 

It only seems to squeak of sorts when I hit a bump, but not turning the wheels, nor does it pop, I got under the truck while someone rocked it and it seemed to be coming more from behind the ball joint's I think maybe where the A arm connects to the frame.

I have a 2000 Dodge RAM 1500, 5.2L V8 2WD.

 

I'd say good bet it's the BJ's.. My 2001 2wd has riveted ball joints, which are fun to remove, not sure about the 2000....

Still looking around $200 for all new joints, for average brand parts.

 

See if you can make it squeak by bouncing it while sitting still. Might be able to localize the noise.

2 or 4 wheel drive??

 

^2wd.

Post #4

 

I've seen the bushings where the lower control arm bolts to the frame start to squeak. The bolt seizes to the steel sleeve and the bushing turns in the control arm. That will only squeak when you go over bumbs. Lay under the front of the truck and have a buddy push down on the bumper and figure out which side its coming from.

 

I did that, and the sound doesn't seem like it comes from around the ball joints, it sounds like it's coming from farther back by the coil spring area, only if the tires are straight will it squeak, if I turn the wheels it doesn't squeak while I turn them, nor does it squeak as bad when rocked up and down with the wheels turned in either direction. I'm gonna have it looked at soon, so far signs of a bad by aren't present-day except the squeak, I notice no wheel vibration, nor does it veer left or right when letting go of the wheel.

 

That sounds a LOT like control arm bushings. Did you try turning it both ways, to see if it changed anything?