Squeaky lower control arm bushings when cold

[OR VietVet]

This is why buying the whole control arm makes more sense that rebuilding the existing arm.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@PNW VietVet Not sure what you mean, all of my control arms are about 1 year old. Premium MOOG for the lowers and Rough Country forged control arms up top.

 

[OR VietVet]

What I meant is doing the whole arm assembly and not replacing ball joints and bushings on the old arm. I did not know you did the whole arm.

 

[Tozan]

Mine was starting to squeek too. I also have the moogs. I greased the upper and lower ball joints and the noise went away.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

Mine was starting to squeek too. I also have the moogs. I greased the upper and lower ball joints and the noise went away.

@Tozan I think you are into something. I went through the car wash today and the squeak has turned into more of a balljoint sound that I can hear when turning the wheel sometimes. I will lube them up tomorrow. Is this something to be concerned of? These lower control arm units are only a year or 2 old

 

[Tozan]

Don't worry to much if the noise goes away just drive it...

 

[OR VietVet]

Turning noise=ball joints. Jouncing noise=bushings

 

[Tozan]

Turning noise=ball joints. Jouncing noise=bushings

Actually I was thinking the same thing. Mine was making the noise when bouncing not turning.

So, I started out lubing the crap out of the bushings to no avail I was getting ready to pull them apart to grease them up. Then I decided to grease the ball joints first and that fixed the problem.

So, I think it could be either way sometime.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

Actually I was thinking the same thing. Mine was making the noise when bouncing not turning.
So, I started out lubing the crap out of the bushings to no avail I was getting ready to pull them apart to grease them up. Then I decided to grease the ball joints first and that fixed the problem.

So, I think it could be either way sometime.

@MO VietVet @Tozan You will both be disappointed to hear what I found. I went under the Tahoe today with a grease gun to fill the lower ball joints and what I found is that there is grease coming out of the top of the ball joint boots. It seems that when I undid the upper ball joint a month or so ago the knuckle must have flopped around and torn the boot while the upper ball joint was disconnected. What a pain this will be to fix.

 

[OR VietVet]

Boots, on feet and ball joints, are important.