2000 4x4 zr2 fron end is squeking very bad. Just replaced the balljoints and its still squeking. All i have to do is turn the wheel and it starts squeking bad. Anyone else had this problem and figured it out?

 

So say the vehicle is running, but you are sitting in park idling. You turn the steering wheel... Is this when you hear the noise? Or does the vehicle need to be moving? Are you sure it is a squeak - like when you jump up and down on an old mattress? Or is it more of a squeal?

 

Its deff a squek. Even if the motor is off and i rock the body it squeks. Its not the power steerings normal squeal at all. Even happens if motor is off

 

How did the rest of the suspension components look when you replaced the ball joints?

 

Such as the shocks and control arms? Socks are fairly new. I didnt take the control arms out to check the bushings yet.

 

Was the squeak present prior to replacing the shocks? The shocks really just provide resistance to the bouncing of going down the road. They wouldn't be my first thought when looking for a squeak. You don't have to remove the control arms to look at the bushings. You can just look at the rubber with them in there. Did you notice any squeaking sounds when you moved the control arms while you were changing the ball joints? Did you change the ball joints because of the squeak? How about the tie rod ends? What kind of shape are they in? Have you greased them? Have you greased the rest of the fittings in the front end?

Pitman arm, idler arm, centerlink - check all of these things...

 

So if the shocks are probably not the cause of the squeaking, what are the probable causes of front end squeaking? and in the order of most likely first and less likely last. The items that have been mentioned are: control arm bushings, ball joints/upper and lower/, the two sway bar bushings, sway bar links/cushions.....I call them donuts.
The items I see mentioned ,but don't understand how they could be the culprit are tie rod ends, pitman arm, idler arm, center link. I am trying to pinpoint the item squeaking and not just replacing the entire suspension.

 

Try lubing the entire front end first before throwing parts, including your new ball joints. Its amazing how a little bit of grease can fix a squeak.

 

Pretty much anything rubbing together, especially metal parts, can squeak. In fact, I just had to oil the hinges on the front door of the office yesterday as they were squeaking.

If you have non-serviceable front end parts, in other words you cannot grease your ball joints, tie rod ends ect.... Who is to say the parts haven't worn to the point they have developed a squeak?

As for what is most likely and least likely to squeak? Good question. I suppose shocks can develop a squeak just like anything else. The OP stated he hears a squeak as soon as he starts to turn the wheel. Well, what is involved when one turns the wheel? Steering box, pitman arm, idler arm, center link, tie rods, steering knuckles, etc... With the age of these vehicles, there will be wear in all of these areas and lots of potential things moving against each other to squeak.

I agree, grease what you can and keep investigating...