Ok guys, i have had this problem for a while now and nobody seems to know what it is or how to get rid of it. let me explain.
So whenever im driving on dirt roads or over small bumps on paved streets such as the little lane line markers, i hear a slight sqeaking sound coming from both sides of the front suspension. I used to think that it was the sway bar needing to be greased up, so i greased up those bushings, still hear it. Ive cleaned up the entire front underside and still hear it. Ive cranked the tbars up awhile back and used to think that it was the torsion key rubbing on the inside of the metal housing. but thats not possible because the key doesnt move, correct? so thats not it. Recently i decided to check my shocks, found out both are bad. Now i think that these are causing the squeaking noises? but its only over small bumps or cracks in the road.?? does anybody have any clue? Ive even had the ford service guys take it all apart and check everything and they were stumped, said they couldnt see anything wrong with the front suspension, but they never checked my shocks. so i think those are the culpret....???? Help?

possibly ball joints as well. does it squeek when you turn as well?

no not really on turning. i honestly dont think that its the ball joints, i did consider that as well, but ford tells me that they are fine. but it is a possibility. but does it sound like a shock problem? i mean its weird, it only happens over small bumps or cracks in the road, or a rocky dirt road. its not extremely noticable, you do have to be paying attention and listen for it.

it could be the shocks, but my truck made the same noise as well with bad ball joints. just my .02

does anyone else have any input? lol, if it is the ball joints then which ones. uppers or lowers? anybody have any clue? thanks

I know this is a little late of a response, but the noise is actually quite normal for the most part. As long as it isnt terribly noticeable, just dont worry about it. Almost all cars have a small amount of suspension chirp. It happens on the small cracks because the quick, small, sudden motion of the suspension causes the parts to just chirp. It happens to almost all cars. Even my brand new Level II does it a little bit. However, it is a famous "Issue" on ford trucks because of their extremely rigid suspensions. It is also commonly the shocks. A lot of times the higher quality shocks have a much more rigid and tough build, and are therefore more prone to the occasional noise that comes and goes. One day the shocks mught be all "Im gonna be quiet today, YAY!!!", and some days they are noisy.

It could possibly be the bolts/sleeves in the bushings of the control arms, but I would think that it would do that all the time..


JT

My truck has been doing the same thing and the shocks is the only conclusion I have come to. I plan on replacing them on Saturday. It only has 35K on it and I don't know what else it could be.

try spraying lube on the upper and lower control arm bushings, lube them up good.

This was my problem a while back, rides quietly now.

I've got the same noise coming from mine, but seems to be isolated to the front driver's side. I plan on getting under there and lubing the hell out of it and see if that takes care of it.

Anyone have any suggestions on the best stuff to lube it with?

Sorry to highjack your post. But I have the same problem. Small bumps only, doesn't do it all the time, but when it does do it I'm scared to drive it. I noticed last night that when it's making the noise, if I am dead stopped and turn the steering wheel a very little bit back and forth that I can hear/feel a sqeak/grind noise. Now in my case, a bad tie rod, shocks, and lower ball joints have been replaced. Anyone have suggestions on this?

use some silicon spray or some white grease, anything to get in there and make some lube. don't have that... use some butter, but don't complain when your truck starts to smell like popcorn :E

Seeing this thread, I'm beginning to think it is just a Ranger quirk. I have lubed all the bushings I can find under there as well. I am not totally sure the shocks are bad on mine so I am taking it to the dealer in the morning to see what they say. Hopefully it will be under warranty. I'll let y'all know what they say about mine.

mine did the same thing. it was the shocks. use a good grease gun and actually make a very small hole so you can pump grease into the boot. my mechanic and i did it and have not had so much as a chirp(knock on wood) for about 60k miles now.