Alright, I think I've posted enough "try this" replys to problems to present my own. My front end has developed the most annoying creaking/groaning sound, and its becoming down right embarrasing pulling into my complex and, worst of all, pulling into work. My wife is even embarrased to drive with me now, and I know her brand new 4Runner is laughing at poor old Monty in the garage very night.

At work all the Mercedes, BMW and "high end" pavement pounder SUV drivers look at me with distain. Today, as one of the partners climbed out of his brand new Infinity, he jokingly told me to get my "damn car fixed." That was the last straw.

In my ongoing battle with this noise (going on about four months now) I've hit every bushing with spray lithium grease (probably not a good idea for the life of the rubber bushings, but I bacame desperate some time ago). I've hit under the dust covers of the tortion bars too. I thought once, when I hit the steering linkage with some grease, the thing shut up for a few days, but I can't seem to find that same place again, try as I might.

It creaks over all manner of bumps (even little bumps on the freeway) and when I brake at low speeds, and it groans when I turn. I hit all the chassis zerks with with brand new grease, I've changed the brakes (rotors and pads), repacked the wheel bearings, checked and lubed the steering linkage, and checked the power steering (fluid level and hoses). I frustration I took it to my shop today and they said a chassis lube will do it, but I did that already (I don't want to take it back because the guy keeps telling me to get my timing belt replaced and I don't want to spend the money yet)! And, yes, I think I've read enough posts, looked at the book enough times and have been under the damn thing enough times to know where all of the zerk fittings are (although I'm still open to suggestions).

I bought the truck used and it was missing all the skid plates (except the one on the very front), had a new drivers side axle, and it appears to have undergone some body work on the hood (yeah, and the CARFAX was clean - some good that thing is). I had to replace the driver's side diff seal because it was leaking, and it looked like the that side took an impact judging by the way the old seal was bent (the hole for the drive shaft was actually oblong, and that's where it was leaking from).

Now, my questions: As a result of an impact, could it have affected my (outrageously expensive to replace) steering box, and could that be making all the creaking and groaning noise? Has anyone ever had problems with these units before? Or rebuit one?

Usually if I sit and drink a few beers and stare at the thing I can solve the problem, but I'm at my wit's end with this seemingly simple, silly, annoying noise. I anticipate I'll be subjected to my mantra "drive it 'till it breaks," but I may be meeting Carlos to buy his old brushguard off him, and since my rig is already embarrassingly stock compared to his, I don't need to be more embarrased with this damn creaking noise!

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Oh, it's a 1997 SR, Auto with the 3.5 SOHC engine, and I cranked the tortion bars about 8 full turns to bring it back to stock- looking height or maybe an inch of lift (before the noise started). Thank you!

Jim

Let me first say that i am not familiar with your particular year of montero.

That said, I'd be greasing the bumpstops (and other rubber-bumping things) with the heaviest grease i could find. Also, take a look, if possible, at your rubber frame-to-body mounts to see if they are loose and squeaking when the body moves. One could also be missing a washer.

It could be a body shop didn't tighten one of these rubber body mounts down all the way....or worse yet, left one out.

I've seen some VERY shoddy body shop work in the past.

I also have to plead ignorance with your model, but look over the lower a-arm bushings, as on the Gen 1's, they are not greasable. That's a maybe-maybe. My white truck gives those same type of embarassing noises when I brake, pull in a driveway, hit a bump, etc. WD-40 on those lower bushings cures it for about a week or one off-road trip...and it took me a couple of years to find out just what it was, too.

John B.

Are you sure you hit all the zirks? On a gen I there are 12-13 of them. You mention a manual, do you mean owners, chilton's/haynes, or Factory service manual?

You won't find a diagram for all the zirks in any of those but the factory manual.

I even made copies of my factory manual when I have the oil changed so they don't miss any and gosh darn it if the tech doesn't learn of a new one he didn't know was there.

I doubt it's your steering unless the noise only happens when your turning the wheel and not going straight.

Ray

Geophie, John and Ray,

Thanks guys. Ray, I have only the Chiltons, and you're right, it does only give a blanket description of the zerks. I misspoke there, sorry. I will investigate the the frame to body mount issue when I get some time, but I'm almost certain it's suspension related. All I can think of doing is disasembling and as much of the front end as I can and reaasembling it with heavy grease on all the bushings. Now if only I could find the time to make that happen . . . .

Should I worry about the grease breaking down the rubber, or just be happy when/if I solve the problem? Can anyone suggest a more "rubber friendly" non water soluable solition? (all KY jelly jokes aside.)

Thanks again for the help guys. But in all honesty, cruising around in my wife's brand new 4Runner this weekend was awfully nice (she's too embarrassed to ride in the "squeaker"). If I can't track this damn problem down soon, we may just become a Flourishing 4Runner family (as opposed to a Multi Monty family), damn the saving for for a new house and wanting to work on my truck every weekend. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

Take Care,

Jim

No problem Jim. If you can't track this down it and buy a new rig because of it that would be really pretty pathetic really. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Seriously, I'd be willing to bet money that they missed a zirk somewhere or one of your suspension components needs to be replaced because it's so far gone that grease is no longer working.

I'd take it to a suspension shop or someone who knows the ins and outs of suspensions and not your typical shop. I'd ask on this site first off because there are alot of S. Cal owners here who are bound to have someone in the area you can go to.

If you want, come up here to either Freeman Frame in San Jose, or Bo's Imports in Hayward.

HTH,

Ray