chevygirl

iTrader: (69)

I have a squeak in the front end on uneven surfaces. I took it to the alignment shop and they can’t figure it out. Said no play really in ball joints even though they do have 175000 miles on them. And shocks also. I had outside edge of old tire drivers side worn completely down and inside edge of pass side worn down all the way. Toe is right on. Shop says could be ball joints but unsure. I am wondering if I let him do ball joints should I go ahead and do shocks as well. Does the control arm have to come off to do either? What would be the reason to change to new control arms too?

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

The control arm bushings on these cars are so old, that any squeak problem could be due to those. The bushings can be changed, but the labor is often more than just replacing the whole arm.

At this point, I would replace the arm if you are having a shop do the work just to make sure the squeak is gone or that you won't get a control arm busing squeak developing two months after new shocks go on.

silversrtman

iTrader: (20)

As stated youre better off just buying new arms. I went to change out my bushings and ball joints and its more trouble than its worth since they sell complete arms. I ended up just buying new ones.

BMR Sales2

iTrader: (40)

With that mileage the car would need shocks, and I would do control arm bushings with the ball joints or whole control arms. You don't have to remove the control arms to replace the ball joints.

chevygirl

iTrader: (69)

Front end alignment shops says there is no play in any of my ball joints and or bushings and tried everything to make the squeak you here when you drive it. He says the camber and toe was good also it doesn’t pull since I got the new tires put on. If I do the front shock and springs would I need a realignment? Do most people do both I assume not just shocks.

silversrtman

iTrader: (20)

anytime you open up the suspension I would get an alignment especially since you got new tires. Have you tried greasing your swaybars? Sometimes when the bushings bind because theyre dry they make a squeaking noise especially at slow speed going over uneven surfaces.

chevygirl

iTrader: (69)

What kind of grease should I use? Shop told me today the camber and toe are correct so I hate to have to take it somewhere else and pay more.

Launch

Did the shop pump grease into the ball joints? they can squeak if they get some moisture in them and surface rust inside from lack of grease.

FirstYrLS1Z

iTrader: (4)

A front end squeak on uneven surfaces ? My first suspects would be the sway bar bushings, the ones that locate not the ones on the ends with the links.
Lay on your back and reach in to feel/touch the sway bar while someone is working the front suspension up & down. If you feel a vibration/non smooth movement in the area of those bushings, they need lube. I always find my squeaks doing that.

BMR Sales2

iTrader: (40)

Most places will do a free alignment check. I would say replacing shocks and springs at that mileage it will more than likely be out of spec afterwards.

chevygirl

iTrader: (69)

Does the sway bar bushings from gm have grease fittings?

FirstYrLS1Z

iTrader: (4)

I have never seen a 4th gen f-bod with OEM greaseable sway bars bushings. The U-bracket would have to be tapped for a grease fitting and the bushing(s) themselves would have to have porting to allow the grease to go from the fitting to the inner surface of the bushing that contacts the sway bar.
If you're gonna remove / clean / lubricate them, only do one at a time. If you're gonna replace them with aftermarket greaseable ones, still only do one at a time.
Be sure to measure the bar diameter to get the properly sized bushings. Bushing sets are marked mm-metric and some marked SAE-inch. The sway bars are classified as mms'. The front should be in the 30-35mm range.