I have looked at a few threads on here but nothing really fit my problem, my 2002 fx4 is making a creeking sound at low speeds. It only happens when the wheel is being turned at a very slow speed, <12 mph or so. the i turn the wheel, say pulling out of a parking spot, it makes a creeking sound, almost like old wood. at first i was thinking it was normal cause its got the big tires so i thought naturally its more strain to turn, but im not convinced its normal.

I got an alignment done today and the toe was off, would that have something to do with it? do i just need to grease something? it doesnt sound like power steering issue as the actual pump is working normal, no whining sounds or any audible signs of strain.

 

do you have a front sway bar? when was the last time you greased the bushings?

moved up to the bay and the beach plays hell on my stuff front sway squeaks like no other

 

yeah i have a front sway bar, and i have never greased them, though ive only had the truck 15k miles, dunno if other owner did. ill see iff i can tell. just grease them from the outside or unbolt them first?

 

any other ideas ppl?

 

try greasing first that should solve it

 

I started having the same problem after putting on my lift. I had everything greased and I mean every joint possible. I'm starting to think I have retarded springs because it seems like anything that makes them compress causes the sound...

 

interesting, i noticed something yesterday, it happens more when i turn the wheel to the left, ima grease this weekend hopefully its gone, its exceptionally annoying

 

ive been getting this also for quite a while now, it progressively got worse and it becomes kind of worrying. i could hear it creek and pop when braking and turning slowly into a parking lot or similar areas. i dont see any wear on the suspension or rod ends but im assuming the brakes are a problem in my scenario, they are in need of servicing. it could also be the lift spindels on my truck finally showing some bad behaviour. i would check the abs rings and sensors up front, brakes and steering limit left and right to check whats popping. i havent got around to it myself but i suspect its one of those things

 

any of the boots open on the balljoints?

 

i checked all the ball joints and everything looks intact, no silicone leaking anywhere. the guy at the shop suggested the balljoints but when i said they dont look leaky he said try greasing anyway, and also that it was not the sway bars 99.9% just because of when the sound happens.

is it possible its something with steering system?

also, are there grease fittings on any of the suspension components?

 

i have been going nuts because of something similar and haven't found anything on the forums.
my truck is making a creeking sound at low speeds also. however, it's not when turning; only when i start to accelerate or when i'm about to stop. had the truck checked out, mechanic said all ball joints, tie rods, steering components, brakes, calipers are fine. rotated the tires, because he said it might just be all terrain tire noise. still making noise. hmm...

 

hmm well the funny thing is its happening to both 4x4 and 4x2... need to find the similaritys.

 

that sounds like a bad u-joint.

 

Advance auto or napa sells a grease needle to puncture the boot to grease the joints, try that on the ball joints and outer tie rods

 

Could it be tbars. Mine make noise sometimes...

 

check your wheel bearings people

prematurely worn wheel bearings will cause that popping sound you hear when turning

 

ya i was afraid it was a wheel bearing problem, i cant get any bad movement out of my truck on the ground, but ill try to check tomorrow when i get it in the air. but i doubt a bearing could be to blame for this, usually you can hear one singing to you full time and it would cause a few other disturbances, which i havent had anyway. i did notice tonight the lower shock bushings are almost beat off of the sleeves up front, so the shocks are moving around alot and could be creeking/popping around.. im sooo glad im getting rid of this ifs soon lol

 

mine started that at first, i noticed it going through drive throughs the most, stop and go with creeking noises i just thought it sounded like old shocks to me, try removing them and then stop and go to see what happens. i never tried it myself..

 

you know waht it also could be is you leaf springs.....after i put the lift on my truck, blocks in the rear, my truck squeaks and creeks when i take off and come to a stop.....its my leaf springs not being lubed up...so what i did a little bit ago was went out and hit my shackles and springs and blocks with some royal purple maxifilm... "mystery oil". i get the purp from work for free...

 

my step fahjah`s car made the same popping sounds

when he finally un-bolted the front driver side driveshaft ,, the bearing just fell apart on him

the only thing holding it together was the drive shaft

 

do you mean the drivers side axle shaft? i lifted my truck this morning and went checking everything, and im still clueless on what it could be for the 2wd. wheel bearings are just as good as they were 60,000km ago. but im starting to think the sleeves on the calipers that allow it to float on the rotor are dry and producing a noise, i could get a bit of a creeking noise as i attempted to move the caliper on its guides

 

have you checked to see the condition of the wheel bearing grease

60,000 kms is a lot without servicing your bearings

 

X2 they only last around 100,000miles if you go off roading,and goin in mud and water they don't last as long,i'm pretty sure it's bearing if it does it when your turning

 

i have never seen 2wd drive bearings last more than 60,000 kms

simply because the auto service outlets do a pathetic job of properly packing the internal wheel hub

 

i had done brakes last year some time ago and the bearings looked to be fine, re packed them and went on my way. today i checked the backlash and looked for any slop or friction points from the wheel, none that i could see, hear or feel. hopefully ill be doing an overhaul within a week or so then ill really be able to see the damage, and ill update this thread