Front suspension squeaking?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 15
Front suspension squeaking?
Finally got the car out for a drive the other day and totally forgot about the front suspension squeaking. It was doing this last year but was putting it up. Does this mean a front end rebuild is in the future? I sprayed the bushings with WD40 but made no difference. It's a 82 if it makes a difference. Drives me nuts though, sounds like my dad's old Ford pickup.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
St. Jude Donor '14
I would consider WD-40 as a solvent. Not a lubricant. In my opinion, use a spray grease instead....one joint at a time...to isolate problem spot.
I presume front end is already properly lubed at the grease fittings.
I presume front end is already properly lubed at the grease fittings.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
You could try it, but something tells me you may want to look harder at the control arm bushings. The rubber may have deteriorated where the squeak is metal to metal. No spray lube is going to fix that. My bushings were totally trashed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
Yup, it may only have 93k miles but how old is that rubber? Past useful life I would think.
Yes you press them out, but it's not too bad of a job. A big vice, a few large sockets, nothing too problematic. I may have used an air hammer to knock out the control arm bushings. I take short cuts now and then. I'd probably plan on buying a front end rebuild kit. You could do it in a week taking your time and cleaning and painting parts. I would do upper and lower ball joints, control arm bushings, tie rod ends, and any attaching parts to the reaction arm. Cheap kits from Ecklers and such are $200, moog parts may be $300 or so. I bought a front end kit unused from a buddy for $100. Bought the ball joints from napa. Biggest problem is getting the spring out without killing yourself. Just be careful.
Yes you press them out, but it's not too bad of a job. A big vice, a few large sockets, nothing too problematic. I may have used an air hammer to knock out the control arm bushings. I take short cuts now and then. I'd probably plan on buying a front end rebuild kit. You could do it in a week taking your time and cleaning and painting parts. I would do upper and lower ball joints, control arm bushings, tie rod ends, and any attaching parts to the reaction arm. Cheap kits from Ecklers and such are $200, moog parts may be $300 or so. I bought a front end kit unused from a buddy for $100. Bought the ball joints from napa. Biggest problem is getting the spring out without killing yourself. Just be careful.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
St. Jude Donor '14
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
Almost certainly it's your "A" arm bushings.
I pulled mine out, ran them down to the alignment shop and the blasted, painted and changed my bushings cheap.
They were all nice and new and clean, ready to reinstall
I pulled mine out, ran them down to the alignment shop and the blasted, painted and changed my bushings cheap.
They were all nice and new and clean, ready to reinstall
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
After swapping a 427 into my 70, I suddenly developed a horrible squeak. After wasting a lot of time thinking it was the bushings, I noticed a shiny spot on the driver's side coil spring where it was rubbing on the frame. A few minutes with an air hammer, and it's all quiet on the southern front.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 51
From: Cartersville GA
If they are the original rubber A-arm bushings, they're probably ready for a change at 93K. If you pull the end cap off and look at the bushing and see cracks around the O.D., they're probably toast.