The squeaky wheel

Sounds like air in the power steering to me

XR7-4.6 said:

Sounds like air in the power steering to me

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How is that repaired? I did put "air in power steering" in the search but did not come up with a match. I see how to replace lines/ pump/ fluid/ ect.

I've never gotten air in either Cougar I've owned, but I've had a few 2nd Gen Explorers and every time I turned the wheel with the engine off the steering would shudder from air.

The way I worked the air out was to turn the wheel lock to lock with the engine running until it stopped shuddering, in your case making noises.

^this. It’s not a repair, you just need to work out the air bubble, cycling the steering from lock to lock will w squeeze it out. Sometimes it simply works itself out.

Will try it soon and report back.

That squeak sounds like a ball joint to me. Or a tie rod or something. Maybe grease those if they are grease-able joints.

jco1385 said:

That squeak sounds like a ball joint to me. Or a tie rod or something. Maybe grease those if they are grease-able joints.

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Id like to hear it with the key off, it’s definitely a similar sound at least through my iPhone speaker

Sounds like mine before the ball joint replacement.

...I just watched my old recordings of the ball joint noise, and it sounds the same to me.

1997ThunderbirdLXV6 said:

...I just watched my old recordings of the ball joint noise, and it sounds the same to me.

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I have to say, listening to it on my PC that’s what it sounds more like to me too, plus the power steering shudder noise typically goes away changing wheel direction.

It's definitely ball joints. Mine is making an identical noise and my ball joints are dryer than Queen Camilla's sna... nevermind.

I just noticed both of you are having the same problem.
I was recommending the acdelco arms with the replaceable ball joints, but they are hard to get.

I have a full set of greaseable Mevotech Supremes on the shelf waiting to be installed. They're not Delcos, but they'll do.

looking thru ra, it looks like mevotech has the replaceable joints. it will be the lower; the uppers just rattle when they go bad.

Not anymore. They discontinued that line and didn't tell anyone. There's a whole thread about it on here. The only place you can find the Supremes with sintered bearings and grease fittings is on your parts guy's dusty shelf in NOS form.

The Napa warehouse on Middlebrook Pike still had a few the last time I checked.

I miss the old sears warehouse over there. That place had everything.

Grog6 said:

I miss the old sears warehouse over there. That place had everything.

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Oh I know. I worked there when I was in school.

I was working in that area before I had a stroke; now I'm involuntarily retired.

The ball joints seem likely to me and that is what I kinda thought it was. Have never replaced them, so that is due.

Turning the steering wheel didn't help. And I noticed that if I bumped/pushed up against the car. (with the car off) I could hear the noise.

So, ball joints are in my future.

If the parts are going to be hard to find, there is a fairly respectable auto repair chain here that seems to do a lot of suspension work, Les Schwab. I'm tempted to see what they would charge and what kind of parts they would use.