Weird squeaking noise coming from the front passenger side when...

BatMan · Sep 1, 2011

....I go over a bump, or I'm on the freeway and the road is a bit bumpy or when I pull into a drive way.

Doesn't happen when I stop or accelerate, doesn't happen when I'm on a smooth road. Any thoughts?

Replaced a lot of front passenger stuff about 4 months ago, forgot what it was but it was about $550 worth of stuff due to a minor accident. Never repaired the body damage, front fender is dented and so is the bumper.

Thanks! Looking to drive to Victorville tonight and wondering if I'll be okay.

Much appreciated.

UPDATE 9/7/11: ADDED PICTURES.
UPDATE 9/7/11: Fixed in April: Rack & Pinion, Front R Outer Tie Rod, Front R Lower Ball Joint, Front R Lower Control Arm, Alignment

ryan s · Sep 2, 2011

balljoint, lower most likely.

BatMan · Sep 6, 2011

ryan s said:
balljoint, lower most likely.

This something urgent that requires fixing right away?

ryan s · Sep 6, 2011

if there is excessive movement in the joint, yes.

jack up the car and grab the bottom of the tire and shake it...if there is any looseness, then it needs to be changed.

but i change balljoints if they make noise or have even a little bit of grease on the boot. look under the car and visualize what would happen if the lower one were to break :skurred:

BatMan · Sep 7, 2011

Update; added pictures, thoughts?

ryan s · Sep 7, 2011

if its making noise, its moving around, so its bad.

since the boot is intact, that only means the grease hasnt gushed out. my old upper control arm sitting in the garage has a perfect boot, but the joint has play which was making noise. from experience, a bad upper sounds nothing like a bad lower. actually, nothing up front besides a toasted lower makes squeaks at slow speeds like a bad bed frame.

you gotta jack it up and wiggle the tire...

BatMan · Sep 7, 2011

Damn, too bad I don't have a jack that works. I wonder if it'll be safe to drive for 2 more days to work, about 16 miles round trip. So if it is the lower ball joint I'm basically paying for it all over again after 4 months...lame...

ryan s · Sep 7, 2011

2 more days on it shouldn't be too bad...just watch out for potholes.

if you change it yourself, look and feel around inside the knuckle and the lower control arm to see if there's any rough spots or if either surface is no longer round (you basically hit the cast iron parts to loosen the joint before removal and that can warp the part). maybe it wasnt seated evenly upon installation.

i've done each lower one twice in like 5 years, one about a month after the first replacement...sucks, but at least they're only $30 apiece.