infiniteuser

I've been having a progressively louder, metallic squeaking sound coming from the front end of the car whenever I turn since I got my jeep about a month ago.

The PO said "I think the wheelbearings need to be greased" which sounded like total BS, but I figured the wheelbearings just needed to be replaced. I stripped the wheels down to the bearings and they seemed to be fine but pretty old and rusty, so I swapped them with new Timken ones...

Still squeaking. It's a very distinctly metallic squeak, and it slows down and speeds up with the speed of the wheels, so I'm pretty sure it's a bearing of some sort. It definitely only happens when I'm turning (on the highway, going around corners I don't hear it) at lower speeds. It's coming from both sides and I hear it when turning both directions.

What else could it be? U-joints? They look pretty old but don't have any play or anything. I wouldn't think they would make that sound anyway.

DEVILSTOY

you must have 2wd because four wheel drive doesnt have normal bearing , they have an entire hub assemble that needs to to be replaced , it could be something as simple as the dust sheild for the brakes they bend real easy ,or possably the squealer for the brakes ? , jack up your front and rotate your wheel , you be able get a better idea of exactly where its coming from

fantic238

If it squeaks also when you are stopped, just by turning the steering wheel it might be the lower ball joints.

DEVILSTOY

Hmm that may be an whole another issue because a ball joint or even a tie rod end would not speed up or slow down with wheel speed

fantic238

Right on that, sorry didn't read that part.
But he says he replaced the bearings, what else could it be, front diff bearings if it's 4wd?

infiniteuser

Yes I replaced the whole hub -it's 4wd. It definitely speeds up/slows down with the wheels and it doesn't happen if I turn the wheel and the car is sitting still.

infiniteuser

I don't really hear it when the car is jacked up and I spin the wheel by hand. I got it to squeak a couple times, but not nearly as bad as when driving.

I checked out the dust shield and I can't see it contacting the rotor anywhere.

When turning, the squeal is the same whether I'm applying the brakes or not so I don't think it's the pads.

fantic238

It could be the front drive shaft. Try to remove it and test drive.

alaskan

It could be axle or driveshaft u-joints.

infiniteuser

It's pretty unlikely it's the driveshaft if it only happens when I'm turning though, right? I guess I'll replace the axle u-joints.

DEVILSTOY

its possable it could be a u joint but they dont usually squek to bad when going striaght , it might possably be a carrier bearing inside your front diff

infiniteuser

I recently drained the front diff and spun it while I had it open, didn't hear anything. I hope it's not the carrier bearing.

alaskan

That's the problem when chasing down squeaks, they often don't make a sound until they have a load on them. In other words, a bearing might be silent when you have it up on jack stands and then start screeching when it has 1500 lbs sitting on it.

cantab27

i had a squeak in my xj.. traced it down to front drive shaft.. took drive shaft off, theres like a rubber cover on shaft, i got as much grease as i could under the rubber..theres like a ball in there, gets dry.. someone will know the name of that part.. rock the jeep back and forth, thats how i found my squeak..travels down shaft when driving so hard to trace....havent had a squeak since...hope this helps, if not sorry for the long post........

infiniteuser

One thing I forgot to mention that might be relevant...

I can hear a sort of hissing sound when I turn the steering wheel, which sounds like it's coming from inside the dash.

I forgot about it because, unlike the squeaking, you can't really hear it over the road noise/fan. Also if I turn the wheels when the car is off, I don't hear it. So I assume it's something to do with the power steering, but I don't know what it would be or if it's a problem.