when i turn the steering wheel i get a sqeek, it's not really loud and doesn't happen all the time, but i've seen in other posts people that have the problem and don't want mine to get to that point. what can i do to stop it? i've got a 98 f150 v6 w/ 145k miles on it. thanks

 

Its the pitman arm bushing on the tie rod end. Fords wonderful greased for life concept that fell flat on its face. The fix is usually to take a needle attachment for a grease gun and inject some grease into the bushing. Aside from that the only other fix is to replace the pitman arm which is a pita since the steering box has to be taken off the frame to get a pitman arm puller on the arm.

 

thanks for the reply...sounds like a messy job...

 

Lower ball joint... is bad
same thing greased for life! if you only drive them 50,000 miles.
I gues it is..

 

Just replaced the pitman arm on my father in-laws F-150, and it took about 20 minutes. New pitman arm was about $40.00 from dealer and $15.00 for removal tool.