99 Chevy Venture Van Squeaking (Driving me crazy)

I have tried to add as much information as possible. There is also recall information related to my vehicle (http://www.autoforumz.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=866470#) at the bottom of this post. I really hope someone can help me.

This is An Older post I made last year:

I have a 1999 Chevy Venture (http://www.autoforumz.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=866470#) van (http://www.autoforumz.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=866470#). It is running great except for this
squeaking noise. When you turn and hit a dip it squeaks like a
tricycle with a rusted wheel (http://www.autoforumz.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=866470#). It also does this when slowing down or
just moving through a bumpy parking lot. It has done this also on a
smooth surface just stopping at a red light. The shocks (http://www.autoforumz.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=866470#) seem fine
because the van drives very, very smooth.

I took it o my mechanic and he greased some bushings, and said
that should fix it. Well it didn't. Anyone have any idea what it is? I
have parked the van, and then stood outside of it, and rocked it side
to side, and front to back, and can never hear it. It is coming from
the front of the vehicle for sure. What could it be?

Newer post 9/28/06:

Still got the same squeaking noise as described above. I am going F*****G nuts. Finally now you can actually rock the van side to side and hear the noise. My son rocked, I sprayed. Nearly 2 cans of silicone spray on every part I could think of. Still squeaking. I took it back to my mechanic and told him that we could finally make the squeak happen. He heard it finally and was almost 100% positive it was the ball joints. It sounds as if it is coming from the middle of the car (http://www.autoforumz.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=866470#). Scheduled the repair.

Took it to him Wednesday. He sat aside many hours to try and please me. He said he took nearly the entire uncarriage apart, checked bushings, sway bar (http://www.autoforumz.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=866470#), control arm, shocks, struts, tires, rotors, and even checked ball joints throughly. After getting my van back it's still squeaking. He knew it would be because he said after checking everything he could possibly think of, several things I didn't name cause I cant remember he said he could find nothing and charged me nothing.

Everything was greased fine he said. He is frustrated as well. He said after working on cars as many years as he has he just cannot find out where that damn noise is coming from. It is very irritating. The only thing he could come up with is that the van has possible been wrecked and could be coming from the frame somewhere. We cannot find it.

The squeaking is so aggravating that I always ride with the radio up fairly loud to try and drown out the noise.

Tonight I decided to drive with the radio down and noticed that this squeaking 99% of the time only happens when I am turning *RIGHT* into a parking lot/4way/or any right turns--- and causing the van to rock from left to right. When I turn *LEFT* anywhere also causing the van to rock from left to right it doesn't do it. Could this have something to do with the steering? Squeaks very loud when turning right, but not when turning left.

I mean it is terrible. It sounds as if the van is just an old rusted piece of junk. It's not just no simple little squeak. It doesn't stop until the van has stopped rocking from left to right after making the turn. I just wish someone here could hear it. It is excruciating. Please if you have any ideas or suggestions as to what my mechanic could check let me know. Could it be steering?

I really hope enough people here read this and give me some type of advice cause I am going insane. Other than this squeaking the van drives and handles perfectly. This noise has got to stop or I'll trade the damn thing in. I can't take it anymore.

Could this recall below for my model van have anything to do with the squeaking I have described?

Recall that I am not sure has ever been repaired nor do I know If I could find out if it has been repaired. If I can find out if it has been repaired please let me know how I go about it. I bought it used so not sure if the original owner had it repaired.

Here is the recall information:

NHTSA Recall Campaign Number: 99V071000

Component: STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR

Details: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI VANS. THE LEFT AND/OR RIGHT FRONT LOWER INSULATOR TO CRADLE CENTER METAL SLEEVE IS COLLAPSED, WHICH CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF CLAMP LOAD IN THE JOINT. IF THE CLAMP LOAD IS REDUCED OR LOST, THE BOLT CAN BE LOST OR BROKEN AND THE JOINT CAN SEPARATE.

Consequence: IF NOT REPAIRED, SEPARATION OF THE OPPOSITE SIDE JOINT COULD OCCUR RESULTING IN STEERING SHAFT SEPARATION.

Corrective Action: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT LOWER CRADLE-TO-SUSPENSION INSULATORS AND THE ATTACHING BOLTS.

Units Potentially Affected: 59

Recall Initiated By: MFR
Date added to NHTSA datbase: 04/15/1999

I think I'd take it to a busy Chevy dealer as those mechanics have seen more Ventures than any private mechanic. Noises like that can be very hard to find and are often model-specific quirks that a dealer might well be aware off. I had a front end banging noise on a 99 that drove me crazy and it turned out to be a loose roof rack crossmember nut-- yes roof rack! Because of the unibody design, roof noises on Ventures are often transmitted down through the hollow windshield pillars and come out the front end just like a speaker. It was bizarre -- I tightened the nut and the noise stopped. It's a longshot, but since your mechanic apparently was very thorough with the suspension, you might also look at your front hood hinges (check for play) and locking mechanism. Try spraying some white lithium grease on both. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

I have a 99 Venture that has lots of front end noise. There may be several causes. All these noise were present since I bought the vehicle 2 yrs ago. I love it in every way except for the front end. But I'm getting to them one at a time.

Last week, I just had the sway bar bushings REPLACED, and it took care of the squeaking (slow speed, moving from stop, coming to stop as in parking lot, sounding like aboard a creaky wooden ship swaying). No more squeaking. but now, I notice more the other noise I have, which I beleive is still suspension related, but I don't have money to go back to fix it, now. Its a knocking noise over some bumps, and when I turn "left" into my driveway,I hear these clunks.

I had a 97 Caravan that had similar knocks and squeaks in the first 10K miles, and these were the things that took care of them for the rest of the life of my van (sold in 2002 at 97K miles): replaced strut mounts (2X), sway bar bushings, engine mounts.

If the suspension systems are somewhat similar, I believe the problem lies in one of these components, and they're all related (a weak part will wear the others). I think eventually, I will just go through all the parts and fix it...cause I love this minivan otherwise.

My 99 has had 1 or 2 strut bushings replaced. It apparently squeaked when turning and suspension traveling at the same time. The strut appears to swivel itself when wheels are turned and theres a big diameter bushing/bearing/thrustbearing thing that squealed.

Not sure if you had the squeaks fixed. I also have a 99 Venture with same problem as you described.

I had the low speed squeaking like the tricycle.
I also had knocking turning into a driveway.

Changing the sway bar links took care of the squeaking ONLY.

Later on, I had the lower ball joints changed, and that took care of the knocking.

While they were working on the ball joints, I had them change the struts, too.

Have you had the ball joints replaced recently? The OEM ball joints are sealed, if you had one replaced it may have replaced with a greaseable fitting. The ball joint may look OK but needs to be sprayed with a grease gun. I had this problem and took my car to 5 different mechanics who told me that the car was just old. Finally took it to a dealership where the mechanic said the noise was coming from the tie rod end or ball joint area. It was at that time he noticed that the ball joint had been replaced with a zeck (greasable fitting) that was missing its dust cap. He took a grease gun shot it full of grease and then replaced the dust cap and I haven't had a problem since.

I had similar issue and the sway bar bushings were shot. Pulling the cover off the bushing should it worn thru in several spots. It was a cheap and easy fix once I isolated it.