Last fall, I noticed a "creaking" noise coming from the front end of my '96 Wolverine, as you cut the wheels. When I put my hand on the different front end components, I can feel the vibration from this creak everywhere, but it seems to be strongest on the metal cups between the CV boots and the diff. I took the CV's out, they were OK, I repacked and put them back in. I even took the whole front diff apart and took it into the dealer in a box. The mechanic there said everything looked fine. Then, for some reason, once the winter hit, the noise was gone. I didn't hear it all winter, but then when spring came, it came back with a vengance. It is sounding worse than ever now. I can even hear noises coming from the front end as I'm turning when driving now. No one seems to be able to figure it out, but I'm afraid I might be doing damage by riding it like this. Anyone have any ideas??? PLEASE???

'96 Wolverine (Green)
FMF Megamaxx II
Dynojet Kit
K&N air filter
25" Bear Claws
Chrome rims

 

Derek,

Sorry you went through all that trouble just to find out that the squeaking noise is coming from the rubber bushings in the shocks and a-arms. Could have saved you alot of trouble. Try spraying the bushings with armour all. It should stop.

 

Thanks Boomer.... If something as simple as armour all can fix my problem, Im gonna just sit down and cry. But seriously, What you are saying makes sense. Remember I said that the noise was gone in the winter? Well, you see, as a practice, in the winter time I regularly soaked the entire undercarriage of the bike with WD40, to prevent corrosion, and I'm sure that if it were the bushings, some of the WD would have made it's way there. In the spring time, I stopped using the WD40, and the noise returned. I just never put 2 and 2 together. It is hard to immagine it being just the bushings though, because it's not a rubber sounding squeak, but sounds more like a metal "creak". But I can't argue with the fact that spraying it with lubrication made it go away. I am definatly gonna try your suggestion, and I hope it works. There is a big ATV run tomorrow and I wasn't gonna go because of my front end noise. I'll let you know if the armour all works.

 

If you look closely on the inside (twards the frame) of the a-arms where the bushings are there are two little holes made just for spraying lube into those squeeking little bast***s, it seems that after a good cleaning mine start that same thing!!!!Try Skick 50 in the spray can, or Tri-flo
both work great!
DOO800

 

I removed my shocks and the upper and lower a-arm bolts and greased the bolts with marine grease, I do this yearly and I also use a sray lube after every wash!!!

 

Well I totally soaked the front end with silicone spray this morning before work. When I got home from work, I rode it for about 15 minutes and then resoaked the entire front end with a penetrating lubricating oil spray, and rode it for another 20. The creak is still there. My bike doesnt' have the lubrication holes mentioned in DOO800's post. Maybe that didn't come out until after '96. It's possible that the lubricant just hasn't penetrated the bushings yet, but I think my problem goes further than that. When I'm riding, and I make a sharp turn, there is an awful grinding noise coming from the front end. I don't know what it could be.... unless my CV's went bad since I checked them last year, but I doubt it. They looked really good last year, and I repacked them with new CV grease, and I probably haven't put anymore than 20 or 30 hours on it since then. I'm gonna push my luck a little, like I usually do, and go on a poker run tomorrow. With my luck, I'll probably do more damage, but what the hell. I'm not gonna let my bike just sit there all summer because I can't find the source of my mystery noises. One other thing I just noticed.... I just tried to take the spark arrester off my FMF Megamaxx 2 pipe so I could take the silencer core out of it, but all my bolts are seized in there. I broke one trying to work it out. Does anyone know any tricks for getting them out? Next time I'm using anti-seize.

 

I took my bushings out and dipped them in white grease and haven't had a squeak since.

 

ujoints on front drive shaft check those should be it

 

what are you running for fluid in your differential? i had the same problem with my 98 wolverine only to find out i could not run 100% synthetic in my front differential without an additive to keep the differential from locking up. with the synthetic oil it sounded like the front diff was coming out of it and the reason it quiets down in the winter is because where there is less traction and the tire slips more on the ground. when i went back to 80w90 the noise was gone. also a good indication of this problem occuring is because of the locked up diff it steers very hard on tough surfaces. a good way to check the condition of your diff is to leave one front tire on the ground and jack the other one up. put a torque wrench on the center nut and there should be approx. 19 ft lbs of resistance before the tire should move while making sure the one on the ground stays still.

 

ITS the U JOINTS my brothers 99 wolv has the same problems plus a bent axle and the bearings just got reaplaced and the brakes go out fast.