96' Swaybar

[lars1645]

I have a 1996 Taurus and it has developed a quite annoying squeal/squeak at the front passenger wheel. I suspect it is a worn out or dry swaybar bushing on the end of the plastic swaybar endlinks. Can I spray grease all over these to temporarily stop the noise or should I just go ahead and replace the bushings, and is the job of replacing the bushings a pretty straightforward job??? Thanks

[TaurusKing]

I think it's not too hard to replace the endlinks, the entire swaybar is another story,, I would just buy the link kit and replace them,, they're another pretty well-known Taurus issue, I've replaced them on 3 cars, they can rattle pretty good

[shorod]

Can you describe the squeal/squeak better? Does the noise only occur when turning the steering wheel, is it only on bumps, is it periodic or speed-related?

Sway bar end links will usually cause a rattle that sounds like something is about ready to fall off the car. Squeaks and squeals in the front often times are dry OEM ball joints or outer tie rod ends.

-Rod

[lars1645]

The squeaking only occurs when turning and to tell the truth, I took the wheel off and grabed the outer tie rod end and it squeaked almost the same noise and also the tie rod seemed pretty loose, meaning i could turn it side to side while it would make the noise. Is it a good bet that it would be the tie rod making the noise, while turing the wheel? Why do they make the tie rod end "un-greasable"?

[mwt878991]

Originally Posted by lars1645

Why do they make the tie rod end "un-greasable"?

Because it is cheaper to manufacture and they get to sell replacement parts.

Mike