F150 Steering noise please help!
Discussion
Hi,i have a f150 97 4.6,when i am parking there is a loud sort of ginding sqweeky noise from underneath when i turn the steering wheel left and right.I have checked and wd40'd all steering underneath,but still there.Can it be the steering box and can it be greased?There is no fluid leaks and the steering is fine.Any help would be much appreciated.
As it is just when parking it points towards your upper or lower ball joints.
Lower usually go first.
On an E350 the original ball joints are held in by three rivets and have to be drilled out. The new ones are bolted.
I doubt the smaller tie rods and idler arms could make a grinding noise unless they were totally shot.
Driving in a straight line might be interesting if they had
(Upper and lower ball joints are the ones that allow the hub to turn.)
Tip; if it is the ball joints and you can't do them yourself make sure you take it somewhere that can also do the alignment. Beacause if you need camber adj with new ball joints the lower one needs to taken out again by the alignment guy. Double labour plus extra parts.
Lower usually go first.
On an E350 the original ball joints are held in by three rivets and have to be drilled out. The new ones are bolted.
I doubt the smaller tie rods and idler arms could make a grinding noise unless they were totally shot.
Driving in a straight line might be interesting if they had
(Upper and lower ball joints are the ones that allow the hub to turn.)
Tip; if it is the ball joints and you can't do them yourself make sure you take it somewhere that can also do the alignment. Beacause if you need camber adj with new ball joints the lower one needs to taken out again by the alignment guy. Double labour plus extra parts.
Looking at your photograph, the pitman arm and the bottom of the steering box are both wet, there seems to be a fluid leak from somewhere in the steering box. Could do with being checked, may be the problem?
HD Adam said:
Yes, it's easy to do.
Get under the front and look at these parts. Can you see the grease nipple?
Get a grease gun and, er, grease it. Do the other side too.
Get under the front and look at these parts. Can you see the grease nipple?
Get a grease gun and, er, grease it. Do the other side too.
Sbrad said:
Looking at your photograph, the pitman arm and the bottom of the steering box are both wet, there seems to be a fluid leak from somewhere in the steering box. Could do with being checked, may be the problem?
Stu, it's probably all that WD40 that has been sprayed at it...HD Adam said:
Yes, it's easy to do.
Get under the front and look at these parts. Can you see the grease nipple?
Get a grease gun and, er, grease it. Do the other side too.
Get under the front and look at these parts. Can you see the grease nipple?
Get a grease gun and, er, grease it. Do the other side too.
sorry,been away thanks for your replys.I can now hear something rattling underneath can this narrow it done to what is making the noise!do the ball joints rattle and is it dangerous?Please can someone explain about the ball joints and how they wear down and what to do to fix?thanks dave
djo2267 said:
sorry,been away thanks for your replys.I can now hear something rattling underneath can this narrow it done to what is making the noise!do the ball joints rattle and is it dangerous?Please can someone explain about the ball joints and how they wear down and what to do to fix?thanks dave
A balljoint is a ball in a socket. The socket usually attaches to a rod, the ball attatches to another part via a taper held in place by a nut.Changing them (the smaller ones) is relatively easy, but alignment will need to done which isn't
NitroWars said:
Sbrad said:
Looking at your photograph, the pitman arm and the bottom of the steering box are both wet, there seems to be a fluid leak from somewhere in the steering box. Could do with being checked, may be the problem?
Stu, it's probably all that WD40 that has been sprayed at it...HD Adam said:
Yes, it's easy to do.
Get under the front and look at these parts. Can you see the grease nipple?
Get a grease gun and, er, grease it. Do the other side too.
Get under the front and look at these parts. Can you see the grease nipple?
Get a grease gun and, er, grease it. Do the other side too.
djo2267 said:
Thanks, i am in barnet, north london.I have got to get an mot very soon,so need to sort this out sharpish.Can the ball joints break as i don't want to drive it if it can cause an accident.Have you got a rough idea on the cost to prepare myself.thanks dave
The ball joints can break and you will find your car sitting at an angle as the wheel gives way only being held on by the "good" one. Needless to say the car becomes undriveable.It is always favourite to replace both top and bottom ball joints at the same time and also do the opposite side as well.
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