Front suspension problems and questions

[Smoke and Mirrors]

First of all...Happy New Year to everyone! I haven't been here for awhile as my life has been filled with MUCH to do,so hello again to all.
My problem is that i went to south florida for christmas from Jacksonville,and when i got back i noticed that the front end was squeaking. Now...i got the front end done over in march of 07(cost me $1330)at 132,000 miles. I now have 192,000 miles on the car. Yes,60,000 in going on 3 years! The passenger side is making the noise. This is the same side that the upper ball joint popped out on when i got to work one day. My questions are...Is this typical mileage in which this squeaking starts? None of the rubber around the balljoints is torn,so why the noise? Is it that i've gotten my $1330 worth out of this front end? I'm just a bit worried because the last time,the balljoint popped out,ihad just made it to work. I may not have such luck this time.
Also i hear that T-bird frontend parts of the same year will work...And at less money!!! Wow! My car is a 96 Mark. But...this time i'm gonna do the work myself. The only thing i wanna take it to the shop for is the alignment! If this is gonna happen this much i'd better learn how to save money on it somehow...Geeez. It just seems odd,seeing as how i had a 77 Mercury Marquis that had close to 90,000 on it before i had to do any major front end work.

 

[NoLimit95]

60K miles in 3 years and to think, I bought mine in April, 2005 with 164K and as of now, it has 182,231 and I doubt I'll hit 20K in 5 full years.

As for your front end work you had done, someone might be able to help you out a little better if you could list the parts that were changed and also the brand used. When it comes to front end parts, brands do matter in certain places where it counts the most.

 

[Psychostang]

Does it squeak in the vertical, or lateral motion? Is it a rubber/poly squeak, or is it a metal grinding type noise?

 

[Smoke and Mirrors]

The parts that i had replaced were...

Upper control arms and ball joints
Lower ball joints
Sway bar links
Outer tie rod ends

All of this was done on both sides,and i got a 4 wheel alignment. I don't know what brand they used at all. I got it done at Sun Tire here in Jax.
The noise is being made when i turn the wheels either way,and when the front end goes up and down. None of the rubber is torn around the ball joints.

 

[Smoke and Mirrors]

OK...New developments. I managed to get the car on a rack to take a better look. The first time i looked it was gettin dark. Well on closer inspection i found the rubber torn on the passenger side lower ball joint on the inside by the brake rotor shield. The same side as the squeak. So,now i guess i know what i gotta replace. But it must be gettin stiff because when i'm sitting still and turn the wheels,the idle drops off a bunch!
So,you say T-bird suspension parts will fit the Mark? My air bags were converted so i don't have to worry about that. So basically,i can get lower control arms and ball joints for a 96 T-bird and they'll work on the mark?

 

[Aquabrit]

So basically,i can get lower control arms and ball joints for a 96 T-bird and they'll work on the mark?

Yup! New arms come complete with ball joints, BTW.

I have Moog/TRW 96 T-Bird LX lowers from Rockauto. (they were around 60 each) Fitted fine.

 

[BAD97LSC]

you can buy t-bird uppers too if they have them in stock or can even order, buy TRW parts, autozone carries them, i got bird lowers last weekend for my 93, but i had to buy mark VIII uppers.

 

[Smoke and Mirrors]

As always,thanks guys for the helpful info. I guess i won't get the chance to work on it any time soon though. Here in Jacksonville Fl. they are forcasting SLEET!!! this weekend. And the lows are forcast in the 20's. I HATE COLD WEATHER,lol. Anyway,i'm just gonna crawl under the car and shoot some grease in the fitting to hold me over till it warms up because that squeaking is driving me crazy! Shoot,i may be doin this every other day for the next week! Its supposed to warm up some around the middle of next week.