Tons of squeaking - how to lubricate chassis (1 Viewer)

[indy2guanacaste]

Upper and lower front ball joints can be "serviced", just not with a zerk. Toyota sells boot kits that come with rubber boot and new grease. If your squeak is from the ball joints, check the condition, make sure there is no play in them, if they are just dry, you can re-grease them. Get a new boot kit which is fairly involved as you have to remove the whole knuckle to replace the boots, or as others have mentioned, get a needle tip for your grease gun and try to work some in there.

But, as others have mentioned, there are lots of potential squeaking opportunities.

@RootMeanSqr Love this idea, my closest toyota dealer is 2.5 hours away. Makes for diagnosis and part a bit challenging

 

[2KLX]

Start with the easiest and most common squeaking point - the front and back sway bars (or anti-sway bars more accurately). Spray some silicone on those bad boys and if the sound goes away, I'd buy new bushings (preferably oem rubber).

 

[MongooseGA]

When you look at the U-joints on the driveshaft, you'll see the zerk for each of them plus an extra one near them for each of the driveshafts.

 

[Ambledog]

Grease drive line in all six places. If the slip yokes (marked "2") haven't been done in a while, the old grease might be dried out. If it don't come out around the joint, then just pump till joint extends, then be done. Ride around a week or two and do it again. The new grease can soften up the old goo, and eventually it will push the old stuff out.

 

[slacker24-7]

I’m betting it’s the lower ball joints, as others have said. I never had any luck trying to shoot grease in the boot and replacing the joint fixed all my squeaking. Is yours doing it when you turn as well as hitting a bump ? Mine wouldn’t do it when jacked up and the load off but was really loud when under load of the vehicle

 

[Eyedaho]

I’m betting it’s the lower ball joints, as others have said. I never had any luck trying to shoot grease in the boot and replacing the joint fixed all my squeaking. Is yours doing it when you turn as well as hitting a bump ? Mine wouldn’t do it when jacked up and the load off but was really loud when under load of the vehicle

The worst creaking I've ever had on a vehicle was from dry lower ball joints. It would creak when I turned the wheel, hit a bump, backed out of the driveway, etc. Changed the lower ball joints and rust powder spilled out when I ripped the boots open.

 

[AlpineAccess]

Jack the vehicle off the ground and shove a big pry bar in between the spindle and the lower ball joint. I bet she moves.

 

[indy2guanacaste]

I’m betting it’s the lower ball joints, as others have said. I never had any luck trying to shoot grease in the boot and replacing the joint fixed all my squeaking. Is yours doing it when you turn as well as hitting a bump ? Mine wouldn’t do it when jacked up and the load off but was really loud when under load of the vehicle

The roads where I live are pretty horrendous. Just driving straight 5 mph, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak.

 

[indy2guanacaste]

Jack the vehicle off the ground and shove a big pry bar in between the spindle and the lower ball joint. I bet she moves.

What does the spindle look like?

 

[indy2guanacaste]

Grease drive line in all six places. If the slip yokes (marked "2") haven't been done in a while, the old grease might be dried out. If it don't come out around the joint, then just pump till joint extends, then be done. Ride around a week or two and do it again. The new grease can soften up the old goo, and eventually it will push the old stuff out.


View attachment 2181319

Super helpful illustration, thank you for taking the time to share.

 

[gungriffin]

Grease drive line in all six places. If the slip yokes (marked "2") haven't been done in a while, the old grease might be dried out. If it don't come out around the joint, then just pump till joint extends, then be done. Ride around a week or two and do it again. The new grease can soften up the old goo, and eventually it will push the old stuff out.

View attachment 2181319

Just two items to note with the slip yokes. Make sure that you do this with the car at the stock height (not lifted with a jack) and stop as soon as you see the joint expand. Sometimes crud gets in the seal and it can keep the grease from passing through the slip joint. If you put in too much, it can lengthen the drive shaft and put pressure in the drive line, possibly causing issues. There is a decent margin for error with this though. It isn't like a few extra squeezes of grease is hugely problematic.

 

[AlpineAccess]

What does the spindle look like?

 

[indy2guanacaste]

Very helpful, thanks @AlpineAccess