96 Thunderbird suspension creak?!?!?!?

T-Bird_Steve · 07-14-2009, 06:46 PM

Hello,

I've had my 96 T-bird for over 3 years now and thought I'd seen/heard all the problems it could have. Wrong. This one has several of my friends as well as I baffled, and while I've heard several suggestions, they've all turned out to be wrong (my bank account didnt like that).

The problem:

When turning my front end makes the most awful and annoying creaking noise. I first noticed this about a month ago or so, then it got worse/louder/more annoying. I know its a suspension issue because I've lubed ball joints and bushings EVERYWHERE in the front end and it goes away for a couple days. It also occurs when I hit bumps, which is how I've also eliminated several other possibilites (i.e. steering rod, alignment issues).

I know Ford has a reputation for having ball joint and end link issues, could this be it? If so, how much do the parts normally go for? Do I need a spring compressor? (i'm no expert on suspension).

Any help would be greatly appreciated, this is driving me nuts and I need an answer for my sanity to remain intact.

eriksgirljan · 07-15-2009, 12:14 PM

I cannot wait until you get a response, Steve. Mine is doing the exact same thing. I have an appt. to get it looked at on Friday, I'll let you know what I find out, it's driving me crazy.

TBIRD430 · 07-15-2009, 03:18 PM

What all have you & your friends done to fix this noise?

T-Bird_Steve · 07-15-2009, 04:51 PM

I've changed one end link, and literally gone under the car and sprayed every joint in the suspension with WD-40. I also had it re-aligned and had several people look at it all with varying suggestions (i.e. upper control arms, ball joints, tie-rod ends, cross-member bushings) I'm looking for more of a specific problem which is why I posted the question here. I can't afford to replace everything .

Thunder-chicken · 07-24-2009, 01:20 AM

I've been having this issue since last winter (pothole season here in Chicago). Car is a 95 T-bird.

Started out with my right front wheel bearing going bad, making a loud humming noise. Replaced that.

Started noting some creaking going on up there. Replaced both front shocks and springs (needed them anyway). Took it to a guy, he replaced left upper ball joint. Right upper was done 1 1/2 years ago.

Pretty soon, the car starts pulling right when I'm braking. Take it back in, they replace right upper ball joint and put new brake calipers on the front. I take it on a 1400 mile road trip and it's just as bad as ever!

Took it back to the shop, pretty pissed off by this point. Mechanic takes a test drive with me and says it may be the bushings for the lower arm (I hadn't thought of that).

The shop calls back next day and say my lower ball joints are bad, right one is really bad, left one is getting there. You can't tell they're worn when the car is up on the rack, they have to have the weight of the car on them.

Picking it up tomorrow. After months and $$$ I really hope this fixes the noise (and the pulling issue). Will let you know.

Elderwolf · 07-25-2009, 05:59 PM

I've owned two Thunderbirds now, 96 V8 and 97 V8. On both cars I had horrible squeaking/metal pinging when I turned or hit bumps. The sway bar linkages in the front and the rear were my problem. They run about $40 a piece for the front, and $35 a piece for the rear. I find them at autozone under the Sway Bar Repair Kit section. In fact I just had to replace my rear ones today. The front ones are most likely your problem, and it is hard to tell they are bad until you remove them. You can see the new part in the parts store, then compare the resistance of the joints on yours. They should not move around easily.

speaker_king · 07-25-2009, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Bird_Steve

I've changed one end link, and literally gone under the car and sprayed every joint in the suspension with WD-40. I also had it re-aligned and had several people look at it all with varying suggestions (i.e. upper control arms, ball joints, tie-rod ends, cross-member bushings) I'm looking for more of a specific problem which is why I posted the question here. I can't afford to replace everything .

Not to be a Know-It-All.....but WD-40 is a lub for squeeky metel but it will also remove the grease in the lower balljoints.

Thunder-chicken · 07-26-2009, 06:41 PM

My issue turned out to definitely be bad lower ball joints. They were hard to diagnose as when the car is up on the lift, the wheel feels tight on there but with some oomph behind it, you can actually move the assembly up and down once you unbolt the strut.

Replaced both lower ball joints, squeaking noise is gone and the front end feels tighter than it ever has.

I'd check your lower ball joints and the uppers too, just to be on the safe side. Also, like the last guy said, WD-40 is bad for suspension joints... only good for door hinges and stuff like that.

T-Bird_Steve · 07-27-2009, 03:20 PM

Didn't know about the WD-40 being bad for suspension. I'll never do it again. Just bought new lower ball joints for both front driver and passenger side. When I get them in I'll give an update.

To Elderwolf: The sway bar linkage was another suggestion I just recently received from a guy who works in a Ford dealer repair shop. I'm going to try the ball joints first, but if all else fails, the linkage will be next.

Thanks for all the help guys, I'll update when the work is done. Hopefully this will help others.

devodev · 07-28-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Bird_Steve

I've changed one end link, and literally gone under the car and sprayed every joint in the suspension with WD-40. I also had it re-aligned and had several people look at it all with varying suggestions (i.e. upper control arms, ball joints, tie-rod ends, cross-member bushings) I'm looking for more of a specific problem which is why I posted the question here. I can't afford to replace everything .

How hard was it to replace the end links? I'm thinking about tackling it on mine as I find it hard to get motivated to wrench these days.