How loud are dry sway bar bushings?

Lately I have been noticing a loud squeek/creeking noise coming from my front end when I am driving it and also when I push down on the bumper. Its very noticeable with the radio off and im hoping its just the sway bar bushings that just need to be re-lubed. Has anybody had to re-lube their bushings and can you tell me if the noise was really loud? I got the Chubby sways and havent lubed them in over a year.I just want to get an idea before i get my chunky ass under the car and cant pin point the noise.

never had to lube mine, ever.

my truck made that noise under the same movement and it was the ball joints.

but you never know. lubing a sway bar bushing is like a 10 minute job so it wouldn't hurt to rule it out. 2 bolts per heat shield and 2 bolts for the brackets. you wouldn't even have to un hook the end links.

jontoad wrote:

never had to lube mine, ever.

my truck made that noise under the same movement and it was the ball joints.

but you never know. lubing a sway bar bushing is like a 10 minute job so it wouldn't hurt to rule it out. 2 bolts per heat shield and 2 bolts for the brackets. you wouldn't even have to un hook the end links.

Fuck, I hope its not the balljoints. I have lubed up the sway bushings before and yeah its easy but my garage isnt heated and its supposed to be 90+ tomorrow so im not looking forward to it, lol. Ill check the balljoints when i got the car jacked up.

In case it is the balljoints, anybody got any recommendations on a good replacement? Id prefer some with grease fittings.

can't go wrong with moog parts.

its a good thing you said you garage isn't heated...

jontoad wrote:

can't go wrong with moog parts.

its a good thing you said you garage isn't heated...

LMAO, I meant it isnt air conditioned.

Yeah, I'd check the sways first, hell, disconnect them, then lower the car down and see if it still does it. IF it does still, check the ball joints. OR to rule out the tie rods, pop the outer tie rods off the knuckle, and see if it still does it, then if it does, you know the suspension is making the noise, not the steering components.

I've seen sway bar links, sway bar bushings, ball joints, and even the tension struts make funky noises like that. Gotta love how newere cars don't have grease fittings. We got an upper control arm at the shop for a Charger from Carquest that had a grease fitting on the ball joint the other day. But like Jon said, Moog is pretty good and they got GREAT lifetime warranties usually

Moparcharger06 wrote:

Gotta love how newere cars don't have grease fittings. We got an upper control arm at the shop for a Charger from Carquest that had a grease fitting on the ball joint the other day. But like Jon said, Moog is pretty good and they got GREAT lifetime warranties usually

Its called "Planned obsolescence", and it sucks usually.

my ass end makes a weird noise when i pull out of the drive sometimes.....

inkedup wrote:

my ass end makes a weird noise when i pull out of the drive sometimes.....

You know you just set yourself up for comments, right?

Yep.thanks just realized that. Oh well .....I meant the cars ass end nor mine

Ok guys im going to attempt to lube the bushings and check for more squeeks tomorrow in 95 degree heat. If I dont post back in here by tomorrow night, chances are I melted or my fat ass died from heat stroke. Ill let you know if I find the problem.

Take it somewhere let them sweat

That gives me an idea a bar/oil change place

inkedup wrote:

Take it somewhere let them sweat

I dont like other people working on my car. And I sure as hell dont like paying for it, lol.

liljoejoe54 wrote:

inkedup wrote:

Take it somewhere let them sweat

I dont like other people working on my car. And I sure as hell dont like paying for it, lol.

X2....

Ok while I was jacking the car up, I heard the noise again but it seemed like it was coming from the upper control arm area. My upper balljoint boot is ripped so there is a good chance that is the problem. I also know the upper control arm bolts come loose every once in a great while so I am going to check to see if they are still tight. In case its the balljoint, does anybody know how to change them? It looks like it was pressed into the control arm and I dont know how to remove it.

Ok Im 90% sure its the upper balljoint. I sprayed some gel lube inside the hole in the boot and the noise went away for a few minutes while driving then came back right before I went into my garage. Before I lubed, the noise would always be there while I drove. Im done for today cuz its too fucking hot out.

Adam would be the person to ask. I think you take the nut off and beat the control arm with a sledge hammer till the ball joint pops. I have done that on a minivan before. I know that Autozone rents the correct tool.

Shawn1112 wrote:

Adam would be the person to ask. I think you take the nut off and beat the control arm with a sledge hammer till the ball joint pops. I have done that on a minivan before. I know that Autozone rents the correct tool.

Thanks Shawn.

Pickle Fork.

Illinois Chaos wrote:

Pickle Fork.

I have one of those but thats used to separate the ball joint from the knuckle, which I know how to do. I just didnt know how to remove the balljoint from the upper control arm. But I guess like Shawn said, it probably has to be removed with a big ass hammer.

Yeah, TOTALLY man, if the boot is ripped, then water got inside it and the grease that came in it, came out. So there is no lubrication in the ball joint. It'll definately make noise for sure then man.

As for replacement, it'll be the whole upper control arm you'll need to replace. JUST the ball joint isn't service-able. It's not too hard, the only hard part is taking out the bolts where with arm mounts. You'll have to lower or remove the strut/spring assembly, and pop the upper ball joint nut loose, then beat the knuckle where the ball joint goes through. Leave the nut on it loosely though, so the knuckle doesn't fall and hit ya or rip the abs wire. Then from there it's a matter of fishing you're hands behind the fuse box to the one nut, and under/behind the cowl area to get to the other nut.

It seems like a pain, but once you get going, it'll go smoothly

Moparcharger06 wrote:

Yeah, TOTALLY man, if the boot is ripped, then water got inside it and the grease that came in it, came out. So there is no lubrication in the ball joint. It'll definately make noise for sure then man.

As for replacement, it'll be the whole upper control arm you'll need to replace. JUST the ball joint isn't service-able. It's not too hard, the only hard part is taking out the bolts where with arm mounts. You'll have to lower or remove the strut/spring assembly, and pop the upper ball joint nut loose, then beat the knuckle where the ball joint goes through. Leave the nut on it loosely though, so the knuckle doesn't fall and hit ya or rip the abs wire. Then from there it's a matter of fishing you're hands behind the fuse box to the one nut, and under/behind the cowl area to get to the other nut.

It seems like a pain, but once you get going, it'll go smoothly

Thanks Adam! It is the drivers side so I know I will have to remove the coolant tank which isnt hard. Im sure I can figure it out.

Im gonna go price some parts!

Car Quest usually stocks the parts

Shawn1112 wrote:

Car Quest usually stocks the parts

Sweet, there is one a half block from my house. Ill go talk to the dude tomorrow. Thanks!