Two Questions

[sb5551]

I have a 97' jeep wrangler, and I love this thing but I am currently having two problems with it that I need help with.

1. I bent the lower control arm bracket that is attached to the front axle. I need to fix it, but there is no shop in the area that can help me out. The last shop that i took it to wanted to replace the entire front axle. I cant bend it back mnyself I have tried. Does anyone know a chop in SE Pa that might be able to help me out or a type of shop to look for?

2. There is a squeak coming from the driver side front wheel or around that area. It might be from the bent bracket but it is getting progressivly worse, and didnt used to do it even with the bent bracket. Any ideas on what this might be before i go digging around trying to figure out what it is. The sound speeds up with my speed and used to only happen on turns untill recently.

Thanks for your help.

[sb5551]

Well I have fixed the first problem. using a blow torch and hammer, but i still have the squeeking. I am thinking that it might actually be coming from a drive shaft or something not sure but it is realated to engine speed not tire speed and it is not a belt. any ideas?

[4x4grey88]

Have you checked the spring to insure that it is not rubbing on the frame?

When I tweaked my spring (while 4x4ing -- too much articulation --wow) the spring use to squeak.

[sb5551]

yea i just checked to spring would a universal joint start squeeking if its about to go

[tomvid]

Yes. But usually the at the beggining the front axle u-joints only start to squeek when turning, then when they get worse, they start to squeek all the time.
Reach in there with your hand and wiggle them, if they have any play, then they need to be replaced. Pretty easy job.
I just did them on my 97. 125,000 miles.