lexluthier72 Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Hey All, I noticed today, my steering is making some creaking noise. Only happens when I turn the wheel toward the left, and back to center. I jacked up the drivers side checked the drivers side wheel for play in all directions (none) and while up in the air, the noise went away. I put it back down on the ground, and the noise was faint. came out a couple hours later....no noise!!?! Anything in particular to look at/for? I know there is some slop in the steering box, but nothing else stuck out. I have not jacked up the passenger side to assess that side yet. -E. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flint54 Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Check track arm ball and bracket at LH frame. Look for looseness, and out of round bore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexluthier72 Posted October 6, 2011 Author Share Posted October 6, 2011 Is LH from the drivers seat, or facing the front of the vehicle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexluthier72 Posted October 6, 2011 Author Share Posted October 6, 2011 Doh. I think I got it now. Must not look at truck when sleepy. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexluthier72 Posted October 6, 2011 Author Share Posted October 6, 2011 Ok, I checked the track bar, no play at all. I did find movement at the joint between the tie rod, and the drag link, but only up and down and not "loose" (which if I'm correct, this is normal function. I'm pretty sure this thing has not had a chassis lube in a while, so I'm buying a grease gun tomorrow. Also, the passenger side lug nuts were not snug.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flint54 Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Lug nuts are over-rated. If you drive fast enough, the forward momentum will inhibit lateral drift of lug-less wheels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffN Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Ball joints creak when they dry out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexluthier72 Posted October 6, 2011 Author Share Posted October 6, 2011 Jeff, I think you are on the right track. I shot a few dry looking things with wd40 last night (no grease gun yet) and the noise is gone. I'm picking up a grease gun this morning and going to do a chassis lube. Are the ball joints serviceable? I did not see grease fittings on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 The upper ball joint should have a grease fitting at the top of the joint. The lowers are not serviceable. EDIT: I am only familiar with the 4wd ball joints. I have no clue about the 2wd beam ball joints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexluthier72 Posted October 7, 2011 Author Share Posted October 7, 2011 Gremlin found. Steering box bolts are loose. Now I just gotta figure out how to get to it without taking everything apart. The squeak turned into a clunk, and I got under there again, you can now see the box moving when you turn the wheel. yay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexluthier72 Posted October 7, 2011 Author Share Posted October 7, 2011 Grr...Gah!!! I spoke too soon....The creak has turned into a "clunk" I tightened up the steering box (top bolt was loose) and no change. I did a chassis lube to everything I could find with a grease fitting on the front end, no change. I am officially stumped. When I'm in the truck with it running, if I make a hard left you can hear it clunk inside the cab, and feel it in the steering wheel....Where else to look?!? I give up for the night. -E. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 EDIT: I am only familiar with the 4wd ball joints. I have no clue about the 2wd beam ball joints. Identical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flint54 Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 When you checked the track bar, was the truck raised or on the ground? When this happened to me, I was hearing/feeling a "SNAP" that sounded for all the world like a cracked frame. Rather alarming. With the truck on the ground, and my 230lb 6'4" son sawing the wheel HARD from side to side, motion was visually almost indetectable but the noise was pinpointed to the track bar mount at the frame. Poorly tightened nut (at a shop) led to an elongated hole. It was obvious after pulling the bar. Suggest you borrow my son (or equivalent) and check one more time to see if you can locate the source of the noise. If you can hear it in the cab, should be able to find it from below. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexluthier72 Posted October 7, 2011 Author Share Posted October 7, 2011 Thanks Flint...I'll take another look....When I checked, it, the truck was on the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexluthier72 Posted October 7, 2011 Author Share Posted October 7, 2011 Hey Guys, I crawled under it this AM. Wife at the wheel (she's a strong girl) and had her crank the wheel. The tie rod at the end of the pitman arm that connects to the tie rod you can physically see popping up and down, and making faint clunk. -E. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 That will do it. Go with a Moog replacement. Advance auto stocks them and O Rielys can get them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexluthier72 Posted October 7, 2011 Author Share Posted October 7, 2011 will do. Edit: Guy at O'Reilly's had no clue. Ordered one from Napa...(they knew exactly what it was) Is it just me, or is the help getting stupider? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 It sure isn't getting better... I always try to order the parts online and pick up in store. Be sure to use the TRE pulled. Will make your life much easier. And remember, the drag link does not alter the toe only your steering wheel center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexluthier72 Posted October 7, 2011 Author Share Posted October 7, 2011 "TRE pulled" Slightly confused....? Good to know about steering wheel center! (mine is off) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexluthier72 Posted October 8, 2011 Author Share Posted October 8, 2011 OK, I managed to get it changed out!!! Whoo Hoo! (there are days I understand why mechanics get paid to beat their bodies up) Anyway....It is noticeably better, but there is still a slight clunking noise. It was hard to tell if the pitman arm hole is out of round, but the new DLE snugged up nice and tight. I did not see any other problems, and from a visual of turning the wheels, there is not much "slop" in the steering box? Is there a better way to check the outer tie rod ends than the classic wheel wiggle? -E. p.s.- I at least FEEL safer going down the road. :D Edit: I will re-check the track bar as soon as I get a helper.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 Is there a better way to check the outer tie rod ends than the classic wheel wiggle? No. But the best way is the way I described -- by feel, not by eye. You should feel ZERO flex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexluthier72 Posted October 9, 2011 Author Share Posted October 9, 2011 Have helper coming soon :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexluthier72 Posted October 10, 2011 Author Share Posted October 10, 2011 Hey Guys....OK...wife in the drivers seat again. I can only get it to clunk when the engine is running and tires on the ground. (the wheel will not turn enough with engine off to make it clunk) I put on gloves, and physically grabbed each ball joint, Tie rod end, track bar ends, steering box....and the only click/clunk I could actually FEEL was coming from the drivers side track bar mount.....This is the only problem I could detect by feel. The nut/bolt on top was not moving but you could feel it click when the wheel turned. I guess I'm picking up a track bar soon. (as soon as funds allow.) Thanks to Eagle for the tips on how to do it. -E. p.s.- Why does the "ball end" of the track bar not have a grease fitting on it?!?! EDIT: Why can I only feel the "clunk" at the track bar end, but the noise is pronounced at the steering wheel (the only place I can actually hear it)??? (my very first thought was the steering column, but its not loose inside the cab....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexluthier72 Posted October 10, 2011 Author Share Posted October 10, 2011 bump....any thoughts on this before I make my next purchase a track bar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 When I had a clunk in my '87, it was usually when making a low-speed, sharp turn. It would not reproduce when doing all the standing tests on TREs, etc. I could hear it, but it didn't resonate through the steering wheel. It felt like it was under my foot. Which it was. Replaced the driver's side LCA ==> no more clunk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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