2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Annoying Chirping

[pcarlson]

Anyone have an idea of what to check under the truck that might create a chirping sound when driving slow over road cracks/bumps or slowing down to a stop. Not noticeable at speed only 35 and below. It's coming from the front of the truck from what I can tell and I can hear it even with the radio on. You cannot hear it when you roll the window down, probably due to the Mighty Cummins. I can bounce the truck, shake the heck out of it just sitting in the driveway and not a sound. Only driving.



I have checked the exhaust, retightened all the shocks, squirted lube on the steering shaft, checked the westin mounts, checked the cab mounts, checked cross member bolts, tightened the quad doors, etc. , with no luck.



I don't hear or feel a thumping but could it be my track bar or Lukes Link chirping or maybe the coil springs? I have not checked or tightened these yet.



Help, going nuts in Alaska, or maybe I'm already there!

 

[WadePatton]

Is the chirp repetitive or does it only do it once per event? Does it matter if you are on/off the brakes. Just trying to help isolate it.

 

[MCampbell]

Try the link below. Greasing the shifter stopped the dash squeak for me.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=76372&highlight=squeak

 

[pcarlson]

WadePatton Is the chirp repetitive or does it only do it once per event? Does it matter if you are on/off the brakes. Just trying to help isolate it.

Wade, the chirping is repetitive as long as you hit bumps, cracks, etc. Once the front hits it chirps and quits. The noise is not from the inside but best I can tell from up front somewhere. It doesn't matter if the brakes are applied or not the chirp is still there. If the road is smooth no chirp. It sounds metal to metal and seems to start after I've run a few miles. It doesn't do it right away. I believe it to be suspension but other things can jar and make noise but a small tar seam in the black top will make it chirp and it isn't enough to really jar much else. It doesn't matter which tire or both hit the crack it will chirp.



I will re-lube the steering and shifter but the chirping seems to come from the right front and not directly in front of me. But noise travel and the human ear can make a sound come from the wrong place I guess.



I appreciate the help.

 

[bighammer]

Check out the sway bar links. When mine were going bad the tiny ball joint on the ends had a small abount of play and sort of sqeaked and chirped like you describe. It wasn't untill they were really loose that I was able to bounce the truck in the garage enough to figure it out.



EDIT: Just read your sig. I wouldn't thin on an 02 they would be bad yet. maybe shoot some oil on em for the heck of it and see if it improves.

 

[pcarlson]

Big Hammer,



Thanks for theidea, I'll give them a shot of lube tomorrow. I rode this morning with the rear slider open to see if I could hear any thing and heard no noise except for what was coming from the front.

 

[gonehuntingagain]

I have had a chirp like what you have described.

Try wiggling the airbox to see if it makes the noise.

My airbox was loose and squeaked like mad.



Good Luck

 

[gonehuntingagain]

DUH - BHAF = No Airbox... ... I'm an idiot!

 

[JGK]

What about your bumper or fenders? Try pounding them in various directions with your fist or a rubber mallet. Could be a mount is loose or there is a little movement round a bolt or other retainer. A shot of WD-40 in the right spot might kill it.

 

[c-hawk]

I have nothing of value to add to this... but i do have the same annoying squeak that pcarlson is talking about. I just started noticing it about a week ago. It is driving me nuts. Only does it when i'm going over little bumps. I have no idea what it is, but i would describe it the exact same way it's been described here. If anyone figures this out, please let me know. BTW, my truck is a 02 with 48000miles.



THanks,

Chris

 

[johnmoore]

A couple of days ago I also noticed a chirping sound while driving slow on a gravel road with the window open. To me it sounded almost like the chirp you get when the brake pads are worn down. Went back out on the same road today and no sound at all. I have about 43,000 on mine, maybe we should check our pads??

 

[pcarlson]

Well I think I got it !! I re-read this thread and searched some others. I relubed the "bell crank", I think thats what it's called, on the shifter linkage and I have not heard it again. I thought I had lubed it before but I missed it.



On one of the posts that I searched it suggested that if I heard the chirpping to put it in manual second and see if it goes away. It did, so I sprayed it good with some lithium grease. I played with it and it sounded squeaky and gritty so some lube might do it some good.



Since that portion of the linkage is connected to the body and the bell housing, either one that moved would make it chirp. I might try to take it apart and put grease on that shaft. But two days now and no chirpping. I will cross my fingers that it stays gone.

 

[jrandol]

Originally posted by pcarlson

Well I think I got it !! I re-read this thread and searched some others. I relubed the "bell crank", I think thats what it's called, on the shifter linkage and I have not heard it again. I thought I had lubed it before but I missed it.



On one of the posts that I searched it suggested that if I heard the chirpping to put it in manual second and see if it goes away. It did, so I sprayed it good with some lithium grease. I played with it and it sounded squeaky and gritty so some lube might do it some good.



Since that portion of the linkage is connected to the body and the bell housing, either one that moved would make it chirp. I might try to take it apart and put grease on that shaft. But two days now and no chirpping. I will cross my fingers that it stays gone.

pcarlson, I have an 02 with 45k miles on it and have the same annoying squeak. Can you give more definition of this bell crank? Maybe a pic or two showing what you lubed?

 

[pcarlson]

Under the truck, follow the linkage from the column down. Here it attaches to what I call the bell crank. The column attaches to one arm and the other arm attaches to the transmission shift lever.



The one end connects to the transmission up by the bellhousing bolts and the other attaches to the cab under the drivers feet. The outer tube just rotates on the inner rod when you shift.



I'll try to get a picture tomorrow and post it. Hope my discription helps a little anyway. My '02 only had 29,500 when this started.

 

[Stroker Smoker]

Dad's 02 has the same annoying chirping that can be hear when coming to a stop. His is a 6 speed though. The sound is definately related to the drivetrain RPM. When coming to a stop it is heard less as the speed slows dows and then stops when the truck is stopped.

 

[Walker]

My squeek started (noticed) about 2 weeks ago. Mines RPM or possibly tire rotation related. As I come to a stop (w/my window down), and letting off the foot feed, I hear a very high pitched, rattley kind of "chirp, chirp, chirp" that slows along with the truck speed. If I apply even the slightest throttle pressure, it goes away. Makes me think it's not brake/wheel related. Sounds more exhuast related (or such). Can't tell if it's coming from the front or back of the vehicle, but definitely from underneath somewhere.

 

[c-hawk]

pcarlson,



On my way home this evening, i figured out that if i pull up (and hold upward pressure) on the steering column, the chirp goes away. I came back here to post my findings, and saw your post. Do you think that given what I've found, it's likely the same thing chirping that you had? I'm going to try and climb under my truck tomorrow and see if i can figure out what your talking about.



Thanks,

Chris

 

[puffincoal]

i was hearing that same sound from my truck at about 52,000 miles. mainly while cruising or slowing down, i checked every thing under the truck twice with no results, so i did what i normally do and try ed to beat the sound out of it and thats when it accrued to me that the drive lines are affected by speed and acceleration/deceleration, sure enough they were on there out, barley noticeable by grabbing the u-joints and trying to feel the play but i replaced them anyway and the was gone from then onOo. hope this helps, that chirping had me stumped for a while

 

[pcarlson]

Chris,



I don't want to say that it is the same as mine. Partly because I don't know how much the steering wheel shaft will flex when you push up on it. If you lube the shift linkage it won't hurt or try the trick of putting it into manual second at slow speeds when you hear it and see if it goes away. That's what I did to identify it.



There was a previous post about removing the kick panel and lubing the steering shaft. You might try that as well as lubing the shaft under the hood by the master cylinder where the two sections come together. I did all these in my search to stop the squeak. You might also check the mounting nuts for the column while you have your kick panel off.



I did all these suggestions as they came in and most were really quick and easy. Plus its a process of elimination.



Let us know if anything works.



This link has somethings to check as well.

DTR Link

 

[TRoot]

Not that it will help now...

I have had a similiar sqeak since I installed an aftermarket exahust, and the squeak turned out to be my CAT rubbing against one of the skid plates (truck is an '05). Figured I'd throw it out there as a possible cause.