I have a 2009 E350 with the 5.4 liter engine which has 230,000 miles on it.
Lately it has developed a creaking sound when turning, especially at low speed or no speed. I've narrowed the sound down to the driver's side near the brake rotor. The sound is coming from a large c-shaped joint that looks like where a ball joint would normally be, but I've never seen a ball joint like this one before.
I greased four zerk fittings that I found, but there doesn't seem to be any zerks on the joint that is making the noise.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks.

 

I would suspect a ball joint going out. Creaks and groans at low/no speed while turning the wheels is a normal symptom of a dieing ball joint.

I'm surprised that you found any zerk fittings at all. Especially being a 2009.

 

I ran this by a suspension shop today and they confirmed that the driver's side ball joint has gone dry and needs replacing. He quoted me $250-$300 for the one side, doing both upper and lower.
He said that Ford has slowly reduced the number of zip-fittings that they put on vehicles, which seems crazy to me. Fortunately, he will replace mine with ball-joints that have grease fittings.

 

"He said that Ford has slowly reduced the number of zip-fittings that they put on vehicles"..

Ford and all other MFGs pretty much eliminated zerk fittings 30+ years ago. Heck, my 1983 Ranger only had 1 zerk fitting and that was on the steering drag link.

78 Fairmont = 8
83 Ranger 4x2 = 1
83 LTD = 0
88 Ranger 4X4 = 0
92 Aerostar = 0
94 Sable = 0
97 Ranger 4x4 = 0
97 Explorer 4x4 = 0
2000 Taurus = 0
2001 Mustang = 0
01 Explorer 4x4 = 0
2007 Escort = 0
2008 Sable = 0
2010 MKZ = 0
2015 F-150 4x2 = 0