Can anyone help me out with our escape?

glad you found the problem, good luck on the fix

 

So I almost had the driver side strut assembly off and realized the struts are just fine! its secret option number 3 that was the problem!!! CV axle!

So Ive got one on order, luckily the guy we go through for our company trucks is awesome and is exchanging the struts no problem. He costs a little more than napa or shmoreillys, but he has excellent customer service, he goes way out of the way to please his customers. especially us since we (my family) bring him all of our vehicles, company and personal, and all of our trailers for maintenance.

As for as replacing the cv axle, is it as simple as it says in the haynes manual? Just pull the hub nut, remove the steering knuckle from the strut, pry the axle out from the hub, then pry it out from the transaxle? being careful not to damage the seal of course. Ive never done a cv joint or axel before. Im not a dummy ha ha, i can figure it out, but the more tips I get the better prepared ill be.

 

Yeah, thats really all there is to it. Some require more prying than others.

I was about to post and suggest it might be the strut bearings. (No, they are not like muffler bearings, these last a little longer and don't need to be checked at every oil change ) They are a small plastic disk that the strut rotates against, and can cause a squeak like you described. Changed several sets when I was a tech.

Here is what they look like, scroll till you see the window
Rockauto.com, 03 Escape strut bearing


That website is completely awesome BTW, they have the fastest shipping I have ever seen and they have amazing prices.

 

this is for a Taurus, but it is very similar, if not the same as escape in design and concept.

How To: 96-07 Taurus CV Axle

 

you get this thing fixed?

 

Sure did, did it last weekend. cv axle and a new tie rod end. good as new.

 

good! squeaking is never a good sound. happened to me once but magically went away...