I took my 08 Jeep in for a checkup a week ago and found out I needed 4 new ball joints. I ordered USA alloy ball joints from north ridge (awesome turnaround BTW) and had them installed last Saturday. I noticed a slight squeak or squeal on the way home. It has gotten worse every time I drive it. I am taking it in tomorrow to get looked at again, but I'm freaking out like a parent with a sick child.

The noise happens when driving straight down the highway but gets extremely worse when turning left or right. Applying the breaks doesn't make it go away so I don't think its the brakes. I can't see an obvious places that are rubbing or grinding. It doesn't seem to have a big effect on the Jeep's handing. When the noise gets bad for a while the steering seems a little loose and the Jeep wanders a bit. It seems like there might be some toe out in the front... could that be part of it?

Please help me relax and not worry I'm going to get another huge Jeep repair bill this month :-(

 

Are they greaseable? May just a little grease

 

Check and see if the ball-joints are pressed in all the way?

 

Could be a bad u-joint.

 

I have greased repeatedly and no improvement.

How do I check the u-joint to see if its bad? Or if the ball joint is not pressed in all the way?

It looks like the drivers side axle seal is about an inch closer to the u joint than on the passenger side...

I've poked around a bit and it looks like new ujoints or wheel bearings aren't too expensive :-/

 

Here are two pictures I just took of my from end... nothing looks too off to me except that black plastic thing...

Thanks for the help. I hope I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill haha

 

Take it back to who installed your ball joints.Was it making that sound before you took it in

 

I am. Have an appointment tomorrow at lunch for them to look at it. Wasn't making a noise anything like this before. I'm just worried that the ball joints were the weak link and now that I upgraded it introducedba new weak link. Or perhaps the bad joints were masking another problem.

 

The pictures would be better if the eye level were down a little bit so you could see the top of the bottom ball joint in reference to the u-joint. It all looks ok, I know this sound nuts but is it a constant squeal or is it a "squeak, squeak, squeak" as you go. If it’s not a constant squeal I'd lean towards a U-joint. Before someone jumps in to say how wrong I am I’m just going on past experience. When I’ve had a shot or dried up u-joint in the past they tend to make a “squeak, squeak” rather than a constant squeal.

Dave

 

Check the brake dust sheild behind the brake rotor. Easy way to check is ti jack it up and the spin the tire in air if its there you'll here it.