I have a 1997 ford f150 2wd and I am getting a loud squeak when i turn my wheels. It only squeaks when i turn my steering wheel... i can leave my wheel locked all the way and do circles and it not make a sound.

It doesnt squeak when I hit any bumps or anything like that... just when I turn my wheels, stopped or moving. What could this be and how do I fix it?

 

Where is the sound coming from? Maybe the belt?

 

We've been replacing ball joints and tie rod ends for that. Squirt grease into the boots one at a time to isolate the squeak.

 

Could be as simple as the belt tension, as Joe notes above.

If your accessory belt is loose, try some belt dressing...but the automatic tensioner could have a problem, or more likely the belt itself may just need replacing (especially if it;' the original belt that came with your truck).

I'd start with the simple stuff first, like the belt itself.

 

My 1998 F-150 squeals only when I turn the wheel, but thought it was because of the Pitman arm needing some grease. I just haven't done that yet.

 

I had the exact same problem on a 97 I had a while back, I talked to a friend of mine that works at a ford dealership and he said that 99% of the time it was the pitman arm. He told me to go and buy a syringe at the local coop and squirt some motor oil in the boot of the pitman arm. I did and the squeak stopped completely. Hope that helps.

 

I hope you found your problem..

But alot of the shops i know if you show up and be like... Hey can you take a
look at my truck real fast im kinda stumped... Usaly they will be like ok real
fast and a trained ear can spot things like that fast...

But he has to be cool... Not a gay guy who rips people off...

Im just saying this because it makes life eazy...

But from the sounds of it i would have to be with them on the pitman arm.

well good luck

 

Hey p95, I had the same problem you have on my 99 150. Its very common. Do like Vloney recommended and inject some grease into the ball joints. Made my squeaking go away. Just make sure there isnt any laxity in the ball joint with the front end in the air or you ball joints will need to be replaced. They are prone to early failure on these trucks. Good luck, Bamadoc

 

UPDATE!!! I went to O'reilly's and bought a grease injector. As soon as i injected the grease into the boot, no more squeak!!! Thanks for the info, you all have helped greatly!

 

I finally got a needle and also injected some grease, and the squeak is gone.

 

I used some bicycle chain lube spray (lithium grease). I sprayed into the boots and around the pitman aarm and tie rod ends. No more squeaky.

 

Bump...

Glad I found this. My truck has been squeaking for months and months now and it's gotten bad enough to drive me crazy. It drowns out my exhaust leak, which already drowns out my stereo system

I'll have to give this a try tomorrow sometime (Im sick of my friends picking on me too!)