I had the sway bar and strut mount replaced and the suspension still creaks at low speed. Any other suggestions as to what this might be?

It is always a good idea to grease the swaybar bushings when you replace them.

The rubber boot that the springs sets on may not hav been put back in right when they did the strut.

I would get under there and check it.

Mike
:smokin:

It is always a good idea to grease the swaybar bushings when you replace them.

The rubber boot that the springs sets on may not hav been put back in right when they did the strut.

I would get under there and check it.

Mike
:smokin:
I don't think the links can be lubed, I bought the lifetime ones and they don't have grease nipples on them. I wouldn't recomend unsealing the rubber boots on them if they're new because they might cause you more greif than good. If the creak is still coming from your links have them replaced for free, they should be considered defective. I had one that started squeaking right away. They are prone to squeaking, but make sure that's your source of squeak.

To find the squeak, try a piece of 1/4" tubbing, one end held up against your ear and holding the other end close to your suspension parts that you figure are the culprit while someone shakes the car. The squeak will get louder as you get closer to it.

denisb,

I am a little confused about what your are talking about . What I was talking about is the end links for the sway bar. You rub grease on them before you install them and that will last quite a long while.

The bushings for the mounts on the sway bar are molded to the swaybar on 2000 and above for sure (maybe earlier). You can't really do anything about them.

there is a rubber instert that the springs sit in. If he had something replaced it could have worked out and that may be causing the squeek.

Hope that clarifies my point.

Mike
:smokin:

I've never actually taken one apart, but on my 97, it's a ball joint kinda connection on the top and bottom of the link. These two ball joints are covered by a boot top and bottom and the sway bar link is plastic. It might be different for different models, I am not sure. Here's a link to what they look like (mine is white instead of black). http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7937294382&category=33592&sspagename=WDVW#ebayphotohosting
The ball joint part of it was actually where I was getting my creak.

Thanks for the helpful responses. Disappointing that they can not get things installed correctly, or possibly the part is defective. Had the car 21 days and have had it in 3 times at 2 dealerships and they just kinda' wasted my precious time.

I had the sway bar and strut mount replaced and the suspension still creaks at low speed. Any other suggestions as to what this might be?

One more creaking question - this morning it did not creak at all. Seems inexplicable....

Did changing the sway bar links and strut mounts change the creaking at all? More or less loud or change from passenger side to driver side?

A guy I know had a creaky ball joint on his Explorer.......might be something else you could check. If you know a mechanic with an alignement hoist (this allows you to get under your car safely while your car is bounced up and down), get your car on the hoist and with a set of mechanics stethoscope or a piece of tubing and try to pin point exactly were the creak is coming from when the car moves up and down.

I had the same creak in my 2001 SES. And after 2 days and the dealer they found the motor was tilted a tad in the mounts. They loosend the motor and transmission mounts and let it relax then torqed the mounts back to spec. Bingo never heard it again. Be care full not to over tightin the mount bolts.

I got a 98 taurus where the right side was making that noise. Took it to a mom and pop garage and they lubed up a joint on that side. Fix was about 50-100 bucks if I remember correctly