Front End Creak

[Elliott000]

Hey back again with another blazer issue, Its in my front end, when i apply brakes more so at slower speeds to a complete stop i get a creak in my front end oubviously its something in the suspension, wanted to know how or what i can do to inspect for specific location, should i check
-lower control arm bushings
-tie rod ends
-torsion bars
-Ball joints are new bout 1 month in on em
any help is appreciated thanx

[Elliott000]

it doesnt creak or squeak when i push on the front end up and down so i dont think its my shocks and it doesnt do it over bumps unless im on the brakes

[Chris Stewart]

Do you think it could be a brake noise?

[randy78]

the springs on these things are VERY well known for being noisy creaky

see it all the time

constantly

[Elliott000]

99 percent sure its not brake noise, i put new calipers on a month ago, sounds more like something that rubs in a front to back sort of thing, up and down theres little if any noise but if i push and pull then it creaks thats why i figured maybe control arm bushings or somthing like that is there anything in paticular i can look for when i crawl under there to grease and lube any and all moving parts what should i look for to verify if my bushings are toast

[drdd]

have you greased all the zerk fittings in the suspension? (I think there are 11 ...) (also, take the load off the wheels when greasing the lower ball joints)

sway bar bushings can cause a creak -- easy and cheap to replace unless they're rusted / frozen on ...

control arm bushings are more tedious to replace. I'd want to be extra sure it was the control arm bushings creaking before I tore into everything. are they visibly worn? ... you might try some silicone spray lubricant on the bushings first ...

Originally Posted by Elliott000

Hey back again with another blazer issue, Its in my front end, when i apply brakes more so at slower speeds to a complete stop i get a creak in my front end oubviously its something in the suspension, wanted to know how or what i can do to inspect for specific location, should i check
-lower control arm bushings
-tie rod ends
-torsion bars
-Ball joints are new bout 1 month in on em
any help is appreciated thanx

[Elliott000]

greased 'er all up and lubed the hell out of any and all bushings, fixed the noises, thanx for the help.... if i found 1 bushing was starting to look cracked is it time to replace? or can it go awhile

[drdd]

glad that helped.

if you got one bushing that looks like it's starting to crack (which bushing was it?), just keep an eye on it. You'll know when it's time to replace because the creaking will get worse ...

Originally Posted by Elliott000

greased 'er all up and lubed the hell out of any and all bushings, fixed the noises, thanx for the help.... if i found 1 bushing was starting to look cracked is it time to replace? or can it go awhile

[Elliott000]

alright so its not gone just quieter, i still have the creaking(almost sounds like the metal stressing out in front to back movement) noise at low speed to stop, im pretty sure it is doing it at speed aswell driving with the windows down i can hear it over the wind if i listen and brake hard enough.What is the name and purpose of the bars that come off the lower control arm and connect at mid vehicle straight back 1 on either side of vehicle 1 1/2" diameter, bout 3 or 4 feet long

[drdd]

those are the torsion bars.

did you spray lube your control arm bushings? were they cracked or rotted?

have you inspected your transmission mount and engine mounts?

Originally Posted by Elliott000

alright so its not gone just quieter, i still have the creaking(almost sounds like the metal stressing out in front to back movement) noise at low speed to stop, im pretty sure it is doing it at speed aswell driving with the windows down i can hear it over the wind if i listen and brake hard enough.What is the name and purpose of the bars that come off the lower control arm and connect at mid vehicle straight back 1 on either side of vehicle 1 1/2" diameter, bout 3 or 4 feet long

[Elliott000]

put it up on stands today and inspected closer, the lower control arm bushings look like there is minor cracking on the edges i can see, when i push/pull up and down on the torsion bar driver side i get the creaking sound i hear, i cant tell if its from the lower ctrl arm bushing or if in fact the spot where the torsion bar mounts to the arm, im unsure how it fits in so i dunno how it would stress. i looked atthe motor mounts and tranny mounts they seem fine, the 4wd transfer case mounts are on the same bracket as the lower ctrl arm the are in good shape aswell thanx for the help so far any mor info is appreciated

[drdd]

it could be the c-arm bushings but those bushings are pretty rugged and tough ...

if things look mechanically sound, before replacing the control arm bushings you might put a large gob of white lithium grease around where the torsion bar connects in the back and through the hex.

the torsion bar is round except for the ends which are a hex shape and are received by a hex shaped hole in the c-arm up front and the vehicle frame in the back. The hex shape is what holed the torsion bar in and allows it to flex with torsion and then return under torsional energy.

also check you don't have any mechanical damage like the large bolts that hold the c-arms being broken or cracked ...

more teflon spray lube over all moving parts on the c-arm ?????

Originally Posted by Elliott000

put it up on stands today and inspected closer, the lower control arm bushings look like there is minor cracking on the edges i can see, when i push/pull up and down on the torsion bar driver side i get the creaking sound i hear, i cant tell if its from the lower ctrl arm bushing or if in fact the spot where the torsion bar mounts to the arm, im unsure how it fits in so i dunno how it would stress. i looked atthe motor mounts and tranny mounts they seem fine, the 4wd transfer case mounts are on the same bracket as the lower ctrl arm the are in good shape aswell thanx for the help so far any mor info is appreciated

[Elliott000]

i se no major damage, im guessin stuff is dry maybe thats ehay theres the noise?, how might i tell if its time for new bars is that an issue, also what would be the best way to get the grease right in the socket the bar goes into beacuse it sounds like taking them apart isnt an option unless i have specialty tools, i have every tool in the book just not this J sumthin rather i hear about for the torsion bar tension

[Elliott000]

also is it the end of the world if i go driving mechanicly i should be alright? just friggin noisy and annoying

[Elliott000]

still no luck ... im confident now after all the lubing and looking at parts, it is in fact NoT suspension but something different, how/where are the transmission mounts and engine mounts so as i can inspect em, also i dont fully understand wouldnt the transmission/engine mounts cause a creak when i accelerate as well? what ever it is its gettin worse i might have to take it in before i decide to drive it into a pole lol its bloody annoying