Squeak coming from skid mounting area when turning

[andersman02]

I got Asfir underbody skids. After getting it dirty, and even after cleaning, I get a squeak and even minor popping when turning the wheel. I traced it to the 2 Skid mounting points right near the Steering rack.

If I pop the skid off and clean all the mating surfaces, it generally goes away.
It has to do with Rack causing some type of flex in that mating surface and it popping/squeaking with grit in between it.

Skids off-Zero noise at all.

Any ideas how to help with this? Other than "clean more often"

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[Disciple Mike]

I had this same problem for a while, and, in my case at least, I believe it was related to the bolts being over tightened. Vehicle was in to the dealer for a recall for the front driveshaft and it started squeaking after I got it back. Loosened everything and retightened with a torque wrench and it went away almost completely. Ironically, it went all the way away after a day off-road. I hope that helps.

 

[andersman02]

I had this same problem for a while, and, in my case at least, I believe it was related to the bolts being over tightened. Vehicle was in to the dealer for a recall for the front driveshaft and it started squeaking after I got it back. Loosened everything and retightened with a torque wrench and it went away almost completely. Ironically, it went all the way away after a day off-road. I hope that helps.

Interesting, ill try retorqueing, been doing "more is better" for the skid bolts so maybe that's something

 

[SpringTXOR]

I had the problem, alot of it was my sway bar links though. I think it was amplifying the sound.

 

[cgv]

I had squeaking on my ARB skids where a supplied nutplate sits in a frame crossmember. I sprayed some white lithium grease and that has solved my issue. I'd give that a shot on any metal on metal areas that are squeaking.

 

[andersman02]

I had the problem, alot of it was my sway bar links though. I think it was amplifying the sound.

Interesting, I hit my sway bar disconnect and drove a while today. No Creak.

Something is telling me the skid plate is creating a more rigid frame not allowing much flex therefor creating the creak/pop, disconnecting the swaybar would allow a little more flex, makes sense to me atleast

 

[SpringTXOR]

I replaced mine with sasquatch links, the factory ones did feel like they may have had some dirt in the joint though. I did have the thought of it making some more rigid though.

 

[andersman02]

After reading through this
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/lca-skid-plate-creaking.49432/page-4
I'm guessing the same thing is happening somewhere on the skid. I'll have to take it off and closesly inspect today to see where it's rubbing. Would make sense since the the disconnected sway bar allows more suspension flex, whereas with it connected you'd get more body flex causing the creaking.

@ASFIR 4x4 any comments on this?

 

[andersman02]

just toupdate this, turns out It has to do with my swaybar disconnect.

I pulled my skid again and the pop was still there. Pulled the electric disconnect and it stopped, put the standard disconnect back on and it was still gone.

So somehow my electric disconnect was making the poping sound. only when it was connected, when i'd hit the button and disconnect it wouldnt make the sound.

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