Turning squeak, ball joints?

At low speeds when I do things like turn out of my driveway I started having a violent squeak when turning my wheel sharply about two days ago. The vehicle doesn’t have to be in motion. There’s also a suspension squeak that I’ve had for a while. It’s extremely violent, like a screech yet still a squeak.

I’m looking in advice for what this is, what it would cost at a shops, can I do it myself? I can’t express to you how much I don’t want to spend a lot of money. I’ve been fixing up the truck over the past little bit (You might have seen some other help posts of mine) and in already considering selling it and dare I say, buying a ford ranger or something that’s newer but more affordable than a Taco ... it’s hard being just out of college

2007 TRD OR 170k. Bought at 145k and nothing suspension wise has been touched since then, can’t speak before. I have pictures of the ball joints and tie rod ends. Is that tie rod end greasable? Isnt that a zerk fitting? I did the power steering. Fluid flush like 3 weeks ago



Lower, looks to me like weather cracking on boot


Upper, maybe grease all over it? Pretty deflated looking


Tie rod end looks all deflated

These are all on driver side but passenger side looks similar. Thanks for all your help with everything

Edit: video of squeak https://youtu.be/5iMhLFjEpSs

 

I've never known a bad ball joint to squeak...pop/clunk is more likely. You sure this sound isn't coming from the steering rack?

If it is coming from the suspension and is making a squeaking sound, I'd be more inclined to think it was a bushing or the springs. Hard to say without hearing it though

 

Same boat here, if I make a hard right I get a squeak. Drive a 2012 Prerunner TRD Sport V6 double cab.

Sam

 

Using the Chris Fix video as a reference, I lifted the front end to see if the 12/6 had any play and it did not. I then put a crow bar under and there was no clunk when I tried to lift it up and drop it.

Did those boots not worry you?
I’ll have to look into the steering rack, I don’t really know what that is at all or how it works

 

https://youtu.be/5iMhLFjEpSs

Video of the squeak

 

I don't know nothin', but bump for your awesome OP pics

 

grease steering stops?

 

I have had my steering rack (passenger side large end) boot pop off and get coated in fine dust from off road trails and pretty quickly it starts making an identical sound to that video.

Worth a quick check!

 

Had the exact same noise. Replaced uppers and lowers with greasable Moogs. No more noise.

 

I actually meant to say 'power steering' in my first post, got the two mixed up lol. Sometimes the power steering will whine when it's overdue for a change or the pump is going out. But, the video you posted doesn't sound like that...that's definitely a squeak not a whine.

As for your boots on your tie rods/ball joints, they do look tired but I don't see any grease mess around them that would indicate they've been leaking. Usually that's when it's time to replace them, or when you start to notice that they have slop/play in the joint. But if you can pinpoint the squeak to one of those ball joints I'd replace it. Might be good to get someone to turn the wheel for you while you get under there and try to pinpoint exactly where it's coming from

 

Regardless of the noise, looks like that grease fittings hasn't seen any new grease in years.. Probably worth hitting those with a few pumps.

Did the noise start after you flushed the PS system? It sounds like a bushing to me, but it might be worth a quick check just to make sure you used the right fluid, the right amount, didnt get any dirt into the system, etc

 

Started maybe a month or month and a half after the fluid change. Used Mobil one synthetic ATF. What kind of grease goes in that? I didn’t even know that was greasable until right now. I’m assuming you’re talking about the tie rod end and nothing else is greasable.


I’ll have someone turn while I’m under to pinpoint it. If it’s from the bushing does it need to be replaced? I’m not exactly living a life of luxury so I can deal with a squeak unless it’s bad for the longevity of the truck

 

yeah you don't have any greasable ball joints or boots, assuming it's all stock. The only greasable ball joints/tie rods I've seen are all aftermarket, the ones that come factory are completely sealed.

They do make needle fittings for grease guns that you can use to grease a 'sealed' boot, but usually once the grease starts coming out it's probably just time to replace it anyway

 

Check your upper control arm, the bushing/rubber boot might have a rip or a tear in it. Had the same problems and come to find out both upper control arms were shot.

 

Any standard NLGI2 grease will do. Like @eon_blue said its probably an aftermarket joint. So take a look at all the others. If there are any more grease fittings Id give them all a pump or two.

If they new grease leaks out right away then the boot is torn and it will need to be replaced eventually.

 

I've had ball joints go bad and squeak when you are sitting and turn the wheel left and right or real slow speed in parking lots it seems to be noticeable. That was on several Ford's. I've replaced one on my first gen prerunner myself and then I decided I'm paying someone for all the remaining future ones, it was a pain. I've always been told Moog is best replacement.

 

Pics of passenger side UCA
Only things that worry me are pics 2 and 5 show that there is a crack near where it attaches. Is that supposed to be there?
Also there’s a significant amount of gunk on the boot.
Nothing besides those tie rod ends we’re greasable

 

How long did this take you/could someone if moderate technical ability following along a YouTube video do it?

 

Uppers are really easy. Lowers require a press or a real skillful hammer to get out. I had a local mechanic do my lowers.
One tip though. If you go with Moog lowers, replace the 45* zirk with a 90* one makes for much easier greasing.
Probably need to re-align when done.

 

Not saying what it was or wasn’t but I’ve been switching uppers lowers and struts and in the process I had to cut open the lower ball joint and the grease was all dried up and crumbly in it. Makes me think at least one of the two squeaks was from that haha. It was a mess