Creaky Front Suspension (1 Viewer)

[highrisk]

Facts:

1. ARB BP-51s - 2 years old
2. SPC UCAs - 2 years old
3. Replaced UCA bushings 3 weeks ago

Complaint:
The front suspension creaks loudly every time I get in the truck, as I back out of my drive way and so on. It started this winter. I began by sprying every bushing with silicone. It just kept getting worse and finally progressed to the point I replace the bushings in my UCAs. It didn't help at all. I have not replaced the ball joints in my UCAs yet. I haven't heard any clunking and they didn't wiggle when I changed the bushings. They don't have zerks, they're sealed. So this may be my next step.

Any other thoughts?

 

[LX470Mack]

Lower ball joints.

 

[TonyP]

Were the new bushings greased properly?

 

[NDizzle]

Sounds like ball joints in every vehicle I've ever owned. When it groans each time it has to accept my weight, it's a ball joint somewhere.

 

[highrisk]

Were the new bushings greased properly?

Tony I made sure I greased them properly after a bunch of reading on here.

I haven’t looked yet, do the lower ball joints have fittings?

 

[DirtNap]

Bump - I am having a similar issue: creaky suspension, not when climbing in, but when driving (e.g., over slight bumps or uneven pavement). Any further ideas?

I attempted to grease the suspension this weekend but I couldn't really find any zerk fittings (front or rear). I put some grease in the top of the ICON UCA ball joint, and tried to slather some on the UCA's two Heim joints where I could.

I am a little confused as searching 'Mud seemed to indicate you could lube the bushings (IIRC, loosen bushing bolt, grease, re-tighten). But I couldn't find a way to get any grease in there. Maybe that was for stock or SPC UCAs. But was a little stumped. Will try to check out the FSM pages on it when I get a chance.

While I was at it I also greased the zerks on the drive prop shafts. While 'Mudders warned about it, I will admit I didn't fully appreciate how hard it is to get to the front zerk! Especially since I was on a creeper with the driver side on jack stands. In the dark. But I succeeded in the end. But the truck still creaks.

Thanks/DN

 

[M1911]

I doubt that the driveshafts would have anything to do with the creaking.

 

[DirtNap]

I doubt that the driveshafts would have anything to do with the creaking.

I know, but I had a new grease gun out and gosh darned it, something was gonna get greased!

 

[linuxgod]

Just sharing my experience. I have SPC UCAs with the greaseable ball joint. Mine started squeaking last year after wheeling in Breckenridge. Not awful, just a little squeak I could notice if the radio was off and I went over a bump at low speed. I greased them and they stopped. Started happening again after Telluride. I greased them on Saturday but they're still squeaking, so it could be UCA or shock absorber bushings this time.

 

[highrisk]

I think I have my squeak isolated to the lower shock mount. I sent one back to ARB to rebuild. As soon as I get it back and mounted I will report.

 

[Markuson]

Just sharing my experience. I have SPC UCAs with the greaseable ball joint. Mine started squeaking last year after wheeling in Breckenridge. Not awful, just a little squeak I could notice if the radio was off and I went over a bump at low speed. I greased them and they stopped. Started happening again after Telluride. I greased them on Saturday but they're still squeaking, so it could be UCA or shock absorber bushings this time.

Are you sure it’s coming from the front?

I used to get low speed squeaks from my rear upper shock mounts. Pretty sure it was the rubber at the top where it mounts.

My annoying noise is a clattering metal noise that I cannot for the life of me identify. Thought it was my loose skids, but it’s not...

 

[M1911]

My annoying noise is a clattering metal noise that I cannot for the life of me identify. Thought it was my loose skids, but it’s not...

Exhaust heat shield?

 

[Markuson]

Exhaust heat shield?

It’s up front somewhere. Think it might be related to my bumper...because it’s been there since install.

 

[DirtNap]

To summarize what's been put out above, the likely suspects for a creaky or squeaky suspension could be:

1. Front UCAs: ball joint and/or mounts
2. Front LCAs: ball joint and/or mounts
3. Rear LTA: front and/or rear mounts
   
4. Shock: upper and/or lower mounts

• UCA ball joints: some may be greased (e.g., SPC-- zerk, or Icon -- remove cap/seal)

• LCA ball: no zerk. Is the ball greaseable, or is it sealed so you must replace the ball joint? Do you have to disassemble the LCA from the steering knuckle (sounds hard for a DIYer) to get at the LCA ball?

• Bushing Mounts: do you remove the bolt, slather some grease inside the bore or on the bolt, and reassemble? Or is it a bigger job involving removing the arm, replacing the bushings, and reinstalling?

• Heim joints (Icon UCA mounts, LTA forward mount): Anything to do there? Slather some grease on the exposed ball/spacer? Or is that a useless or even bad idea?

Thanks/DN

 

[Willy beamin]

I had my spc front ball joints and spc bushings replaced today. If youre running icon RLCA’s those bushings wear too. I have icon sourcing some for me now. Other than those parts look at your sway bar bushings and FLCA’s, they could be shot. I replaced mine earlier this year. Im silent again

 

[BROKEROB1]

I literally was chasing the same noise on my 100 for the last couple of weeks. I could isolate it to the front PS but couldn’t locate it. Took it to my shop and I’ve got a completly worn through shock bushing. The loud “creak” was the metal rubbing.

 

[TonyP]

You can try blasting everything with a lubricant like Fluid Film and see if it goes away temporarily. If so, probably a bushing.

 

[highrisk]

I received my replacement BP-51 on Friday. Sunday morning I woke up early and had it switched out in under 2 hours start to finish. I am happy to report that the creakiness has gone away. The passenger side is next. It has the same sound but orders of magnitude less. I assume the wear on the lower mount point isn't as bad. The team at ARB has been great. I can't say enough about the customer service.

 

[DirtNap]

Great to hear, HighRisk. If one's shocks are out-of-warranty, is it safe to assume that a local shop could replace the rubber shock mount bushings rather than having to ship them back to the manufacturer?

 

[SWUtah]

How many miles on the shocks?