Squeaky suspension

[Howermj]

Hello all, Dr. Mike here again now on mile 3500 of our Alaskan adventure.

We developed a nasty squeak when heading over bumps or turning before leaving the US. Got a grease job in Great Falls, MT, which seemed to have solved the problem. Now, 2000 miles later, squeak is back with a vengeance. Figured it was just from dirty roads and was going to get another grease job when I hit Whitehorse in about 300 miles. RV park attendant said it sounded like bearings. I assume that would be bad, right?

Squeak isn't constant, just when turning or going over bumpy roads.

Looking for thoughts....

[Jackm]

The best clue is that the squeaking also occurs when you're turning. This would indicate some chronic friction in the front end, particularly the steering system. Consequently, I would have your rig examined very thoroughly by a good chassis shop to see if they can identify the true source of the noise. I could start naming likely components but it would be nothing more than a guessing game. A good front-end shop should be able to fix the problem. Best of luck.

Jack

[Howermj]

Well...it looks like the old Spartan IFS problem with bad ball joint hoods. Need to replace the whole system, but getting parts could take a few weeks up here.

Here's the bug question: should I drive home (2500 miles) or wait it out up here in Fairbanks?