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Old 10-19-2016, 07:01 PM   #1
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Front suspension creaking

Noticed that my 2015 FR3 with 6000 miles on it has some pretty loud creaking coming from the front suspension when going over big dips in the road. Is that normal for this vehicle or should I be concerned? Seems worse when it's cold outside, FWIW.
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Old 10-19-2016, 07:45 PM   #2
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Old 10-20-2016, 05:31 AM   #3
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Me too.

It did it before CHF and does it after. I replaced the torsion bar bushings when I did the CHF, still does it.

Everything is tight, I'm not sure where its coming from but seems to do it more if I'm in a turn, i.e. pulling out of a driveway.

I would recommend climbing under there with a couple wrenches and make sure the torsion bar and links are tight.

ALSo the newer Fords need to constantly inspect your rear torsion bar mount brackets on the rear axle. These have a history of loosening and failing.
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Old 10-20-2016, 07:00 AM   #4
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Be sure to lube up all your zerk fittings underneath. I revisit them every other oil change. I believe their are 12 zerk fittings on the F53 chassis.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...1&d=1395786452
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Old 10-20-2016, 07:36 AM   #5
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boozedog, I have the exact same problem including model year and mileage. Like you, seems to be made worse by lower temperatures.

An earlier post by me:
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ar-100162.html

Pretty sure on mine the noise is coming from the anti-sway bar joints where it pivots in the front (not the CHF attachments). I keep spraying lithium grease on the joint but it only helps a little bit. Someday I'll take those joints apart to lubricate them better.
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Old 10-20-2016, 09:16 AM   #6
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Front suspension creaking

I posted on kadiddle's above linked post, but didn't remember at the time what Ford had done. I did check with the Ford service manager and he said they lubed them the first time after checking out everything under the front end. I have done it since. We camp in winter and drive on some slushy, nasty roads and always though it was road grime, but could just be cold rubber bushings. May not be your problem, but has helped me.
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Old 10-20-2016, 06:43 PM   #7
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Kadiddle;

Are you talking about the torsion bar bushings on the axle?
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Old 10-20-2016, 08:01 PM   #8
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Front suspension creaking

Oops. I edited my post and left out what ford said they lubed. It was the sway bar bushings or Waiter21 the torsion bar bushings. I think that's the same area kadiddle is talking about.


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Old 10-20-2016, 08:27 PM   #9
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I wonder... Some folks on a volvo forum I visit have had a similar problem with their sway bars. Theirs aren't grease-able so they have to pull the bushings and lube them where they contact the bar with this synthetic grease. If your bushings are the culprit this grease should quiet things down. It's a one and done application and immediately stops the noise


https://www.ipdusa.com/products/7399...way-bar-grease
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Old 10-21-2016, 08:04 AM   #10
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I just ordered three tubes. Thanks for the tip.

I'll give the grease lube a try next time I'm under there. I'll need to remove the bolts to get the lube into the bushings. I'll see if I can get some into the leaf spring bushings also.
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Old 11-14-2016, 09:50 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by waiter21 View Post
I just ordered three tubes. Thanks for the tip.

I'll give the grease lube a try next time I'm under there. I'll need to remove the bolts to get the lube into the bushings. I'll see if I can get some into the leaf spring bushings also.

Waiter21, have you had a chance to use the lube on the bushings yet? If so was it successful? Thanks.


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Old 11-15-2016, 08:23 AM   #12
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I didn't use the lube yet, but I did replace the shocks. Mine were original, (15 years old)

http://www.2001mirada.com/install-ne...n-f53-chassis/

I usually get the popping sounds when in a sharp turn on a bumpy driveway. i.e. pulling slowly out of my gravel driveway.

When I went for a test drive, I didn't notice any popping as I pulled out of the driveway.

Its supposed to be nice this weekend. I'll do another test drive, and if its still there, I may climb back under there to take the front end apart and lube the bushings.
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Old 11-15-2016, 10:59 AM   #13
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Thanks for the update. Hope your popping noise is fixed. I've been too busy to lube the bushings on mine, but need to get it done before we head west with the MH for our annual search of nasty weather/ski trip.


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