squeaky front end

[slam27]

I have an 88 notchback that squeaks like hell when I'm driving it. Any little varyiation and the road and it squeaks...even when the road seems extremely flat I can still hear squeaking. If I park the car and turn the wheels it sounds like its coming from the strut. Does this mean the strut is bad or can it lubricated some how? The suspension is original but from a functionality stand point it seems to work fine. I will try and grease anything that has a grease fitting on it and grease any bushings I can this weekend. Any advice on what is causing this or what to check wouldbe most appreciated. Right now I'mnot in a financialposition to do new struts and shocks, not to metion coils. As aside note, how hard is it to do shocks, struts and springs? I'm not a mechanic but have relatively good mechanicalskills. Should I spend the money and get castor canber correction plates when I eventually do this? I have access to a spring removal tool which I know is must. Thanks for any info.

Mark

 

[1SLO306]

have u checked any of the bushings? Shocks struts and springs are not that hard to replace. just takes a little time, maybe a couple hours or so

 

[HISSIN50]

since you can make the noise occur in a dynamic involving no vertical suspension travel, ball joints and tie rods can squeak and one or the other might be it.
I think stock ball joints have wear indicators on them (they are spring loaded, so the normal push pull tests on the wheel are not valid).

Though i have not had it happen, I wonder if the rack bushings can squeak. Some shops do free inspections - one of those might help diagnose it further (they can safely put it on a rack and check things out in their true dynamic).

Not much help - sorry. FWIW, I just had to get new dampers for the '94 and feel your fiscal pain.

Good luck.

 

[srothfuss]

If your A-arm bushing are the culprit you can take some lithium grease and smother the outside of the bushings with the grease. The dry rubber will soak up the grease over a few days and volia, your squeaks will disapear.

I wouldn't use this trick on tie rod ends or ball joints.... Those parts should be replaced if they are the problem.

 

[88_GT_5_oh]

i had the exact same problem, it was the ball joints. you wanna know how i found out it was that? look at this pic, imagine turning into a parking lot and hearing the noise get worse then park the car, turn the steering wheel and see your front end hit the ground, no joke i had to get my dad and my buddy to lift the car up so i could get a jack under it. i ended up shanging it in the parking lot

 

[Cobra1894]

My rack was loose and a shop tightened it back up. No more squeaks...I thought I would never find it. I replaced the ball joints, suspension was new and looked at everything else. Try tightening those rack bolts.... Its a free fix

 

[slam27]

Thanks for all your info. I'll check it out.