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1984 300DT: front suspension squeak
When driving, I hear a squeak from the front left of the car as I travel over bumps in the road.
So.....when I stopped, I sat on the left front fender (I weight about 160 pounds). I can hear the squeak from merely placing and removing my weight from the left front fender. Any ideas what this squeak could be? |
Could be anything from a loose shock absorber mount to worn control arm bushings. If it is a clunking sound it could be a worn ball joint.
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A front spring can do this, its normally a small piece about an inch or two long broken off.
Hard to see if its at the top but visible at the base if you get in there. Sit on it again to make it squeak , and then use a garden hose and wet the top and base of spring ... if it does not squeak when wet then its got a broken tip. |
Put the car on a lift (or have one of the horrible thieving money hungry shops put it on a lift) and inspect bushings. Check the bushings on the front suspension, everywhere you can see. Wiggle stuff around, see if there's play.
I had a truck ('03 Dakota) that I spent weeks trying to locate a squeak. It turned out that my lower control arm bushings on one side had worn completely through and we're just metal on metal. Squeak would go away when wet. Eventually found it when I was doing my ball joints and noticed the lower control arm had about an inch of play on the front bolt. |
Get a helper. You might be able to locate it by being closer to the location.
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Yes, that is the best starting point. |
I sprayed both the upper and lower portions of the spring with water using the garden hose With the front wheels pointed straight ahead, I sat on the left fender to check for the squeak. It seemed to be somewhat quieter. Then, I backed the car into the garage and turned the front wheels to the left. I then sat on the left front fender and it squeaked as loud as ever.
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I will soon have access to a lift to make mine and the car's life easier....
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Squeaking intensity changing when turning the wheels suggests ball joints. When they get crusty they can get LOUD, especially if the car isn't driven often and they get some surface rust down in there.
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