Normally knee sleeves would muffle noises instead of make them louder. However, your knees don't really hurt, right? They are just noisy. If shit does not hurt, there is, for all intents and purposes, not a problem that needs to be solved here. You are welcome to try front squats, but I am skeptical that they will do anything for your knee noises. Let us know if they do. I have not read the book in question. Perhaps others have.