my front end was doing this last week..Applied grease to the upper ball joints and the noise is now gone.So yes they can squeak and creak..I was also hearing a thunking sound going over small indents and over manhole covers in the road..

 

If you feel clunks or similar sounds, it is worth checking the bolts that hold on the lower ball joints. I discovered that the shop that had installed them did not tighten them sufficiently and they worked loose!

 

My 2003 with 4WD has had this loud front end squeak and squawk for a couple years. I was hoping it would just go away. Never does. I have tried to lube the upper and lower ball joints. The lower ball joints have the zerk fitting recessed and I couldn't get the grease gun hose on the fitting. I finally bought the Lock n Lube nozzle that locks on the fitting. Then for those hard to reach fittings , they have a 90* angle that snaps on. I am afraid neither the attachment or the Lock and Lube nozzle will solve this frustrating problem. So my next question is : how do you tell if it is the upper or lower ball joint that is causing the squeak?... without removing one.?

 

When I got my ZR2 last fall there was a squeak on the drivers side. I lubed the extremely dry front end and checked the front components. Found the Pitman Arm and idle arm were shot but Ball Joints and Tie Rod ends were ok.

Confirmed the steering box has play but is livable for now. Next Spring I will address that. Should have assumed it was toast after finding the power steering pump installed wrong,,,,left out the 3 bolts that connect to the bracket. Previous owner thought the 2 nuts in the back were enough...what a dumb ***.. But now I can check replacing a power steering pump along with half of the front end off of my bucket list.

Yes, you can eliminate a squeak with proper lubrication.

 

I can see how you might spray a lube like WD-40 or PB Blaster on some suspension items like the upper and lower control arm bushings or the front sway bar bushings and quiet them temporarily. But not the upper and lower ball joints. Those would have to be lubed the old fashioned way ---- with a grease gun. I was trying to explain in the 4WD front suspension, the lower ball joints have the Zerk fitting in a hole cut in the metal dome of the Lower B.J. retainer. If that Zerk fitting is not perfectly centered in that cut out, you won't get a standard grease gun nozzle on it. Therefore you can't lube it.

 

That small bolt in the lower ball joint where zerk fitting SHOULD be, broke off easily. Looked rusty. I squirter some Fluid Film oil on there. Squeak went away for a while. Returned occasionally. Gotta do it again. But ultimately I want to replace the ball joints.

 

I bought one of those Lock and Lube trick grease gun nozzles that locks on the Zerk fitting, but then is a 'quick release' by hitting a lever on the nozzle. The only problem is the 'lock-on' feature makes the nozzle or snout thicker than the regular gun snout. That is a problem in tight fitting spots. That is exactly the situation with my 4WD lower ball joint gr. fitting! The lower ball joint Zerk is recessed in the metal dome which makes it very tight. Always prelube those ball joints and other suspension parts-- when possible--BEFORE you install them.

 

Its the ball joint. Time to replace.