Date:         Sat, 18 Mar 2006 18:34:21 -0500
Reply-To:     Geza Polony <gezapolony@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Geza Polony <gezapolony@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Very squeaky front end

On Thu, 16 Mar 2006 20:25:44 -0500, Mervyn Readman <themervino@CS.COM> wrote:

>My van front end has become very very squeaky. I mean to the point
>bordering on embarassing. It's that sound like springs/bushings rubbing. It
>started a little a few months back and has continued to get worse. I put on
>new bilstein shocks about a month back  and it has since become real loud
>and consistent. It does it more when it is warm outside. It does it when I
>bounce on the front fender. It does it when I wiggle the steering wheel. It
>is coming from both sides of van. When I climb under the van and have a
>friend shake the van I can not really tell exactly where it is coming from.
>It seem's to come from all over the bushings/springs/shocks area. Anyone
>have any experience with this? Any ideas of how to make it stop? It is
>starting to feel like fingers on a chalk board. I'm about ready to pressure
>wash the whole front end with teflon lube here pretty soon.   Merv. 90
>Subie/Carat

Amazing--these are exactly my symptoms, starting as of about a week ago.
Sounds like the soundtrack for a haunted house when I'm trying to park.

I tried lubing all the front end suspension bushings, from the outside, with
WD-40, but no luck.

I'd be willing to bet you could just apart the suspension components, grease
them up, and put it back together.

Some time ago I recall reading (here) that front end squeaking can be
related to the winter weather.

I'll go have another look at mine and get back if I have results.


Geza