Adventures in Noise Land

[ZAID*512]

Well I have been chasing noise issues with my 96 XLT 5.0 2WD and I need some help Please.

I have finally fixed my odometer after 5 years of being stopped on 174983 and replaced the 4 burnt out dash lights.

Well let me get back to my topic the loud whining that I thought was my PS pump turned out to be the Lower Idler pulley. I wish I new that before I flushed my fluid and spent all day getting the air out. I had read about the pulley in a thread but I thought it was the PS pump. First noise issue solved.

Word to the wise if you hear a loud whining noise get a good listen to see what direction it's coming from fo a better clue. The only reason I heard it better because I was fixing my exhaust leak on that side (crack exhaust manifold) and was able to isolate the noise better. From uptop it seemed to be the notorious whinny PS pump.

Second noise issue, after spending the $120 for the two new torsion adjusters I am still getting the clunk noise under the drivers feet but also sounds like it 's coming from the front tire area. Honestly the noise is always changing locations.

I have checked all the ball joints and shocks I changed them within the last two years. I greased the slip joint and upgraded to the poly bushings on the sway bars. The only thing left is to change out the control arm front and back bushings that look warn. I bought them and will swap them out on Monday.

The only thing I did notice that seemed odd was is if I grabbed my tire and moved it in and out it towards the motor it had about a 1/4 play? Could this be a wheel bearing issue or maybe because of the warn control arm bushings? The right side was worse than the left.

I change both my inner and outer bearings about two years ago.

It runs smooth at high speeds and if I intentionally weave left and right I feel no issues with the suspension?

The clunk noises are only at low speeds or over slight bumps and stop and go scenarios???

Any advice will be greatly appreaciated.

 

[JACKT98EB]

Check your upper and lower balljoints,also check your spindal bearings

 

[janolsson]

Lower ball joint!
To qualify, i had this prob and couldn't feel any play on the wheel when jacked up but i did have wear on the inner edge of the tire. So after readin some other threads i plumped for the ball joint. Once i removed it i could not believe how sloppy it was compared with the new. You could always lift off the knuckle to do a thorough check.

Also check your droplinks with the wheels on the ground. Give them a good waggle

 

[ZAID*512]

Update: Well I check my outer wheel bearings on both sides and the spindle nut on both had loosened up. I tightened both and no more play on either side. This was definitely a source of noise.

I also changed out the Lower Control Arm bushings front and rear. What a freaking nightmare unless you got the right tool to pop them out and press them in I don’t suggest trying this. It took me all day to get them out and I had to go to the auto part store like 5 times to rent different tools to try to do this job.

However after doing both these things I still have some noise? It happens when I step on the gas slowly (clunk) then when I let go (clunk) and also sometime when I brake? It is not a suspension issue. Maybe a tranny bolt fell off or is loose or the U joints but they look very good. It seems like it might have something to do with the gas pedal?

I sprayed some lithium grease in the slip joint boot but this didn’t seem to help either. Is there a better way to grease the slip joint?

Any other help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!!

 

[JACKT98EB]

When you looked at your ujoints did you grab the driveshaft and try to see if there was any play?although you woln't always feel any play in them unless they are compleatly worne out. I did my wifes truck last year they were tight,but after getting them out there were 2 cups compleatly dry!

 

[Turdle]

Try a new transmission mount.

 

[ZAID*512]

Update: Well there was something wrong with the gas pedal area. The black panel behind the pedal had come forward and was rubbing on the pedal both ways. I pushed it back and that helped with that issue.

I still have some noise though and it sounds still like it is coming from up front. The only other suspension part that I have not changed is the end links. They also feel nice and tight but it has a boot over the top and maybe they are worn underneath.

I will change them out and see if that helps any. I also will check the Tranny mount as well.

Thankfully the weather is nice so I don't mind being a shade tree mechanic.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[ZAID*512]

Update: Well the drive shaft did have some play and I thought this has to be the issue so, I went ahead and changed the U-Joints and I still have the noise. The drive shaft still has about the same amount of play. I also greased the slip Yolk aswell.

My Explorer is running great but this noise is driving me insane.

I only repacked the outer bearings do any of you think that the inner bearings could be the issue?

The Tranny mount and motor mounts look good also.

I guess I could change the end links they are the only thing left to change and look over the tranny with a fine tooth comb to see if there are any bolts missing.

Back to the drawing board.

Maybe I should make a video to see if that can help others to identify my issue,

 

[joe doe]

your throwing alot of money away at nothing .when this starts happening the best thing to do (for me at least)is to wait for the part to break.then you will find that noise.
i dont like throwing money for nothing .so when that starts happening sometimes your better off waiting for the part in question to break.
sounds crude ,and it is ,but beats the heck outta throwing good money away .

good luck man .

buy a loud stereo...turn it up ..i gaurentee you wont hear that noise no more.

 

[Kevin Barry]

I know this may sound funny, but the front calipers can get a bit loose and cause the clunking. Check to see if the brake pads were not shimmed correctly too.

 

[ZAID*512]

Well my Explorer has around 275-300K and everything I have changed was worn out already now the ride feels a lot better.

I don't think it was throwing the money away, but you make a very valid point. However, sometimes waiting to fail can damage other things and be more costly. The weather has been great lately so I don't mind getting under the car and getting a little dirty.

In all the parts have cost me around 500.00 I have probably saved thousand + on labor

I did tighten the calipers they did loosen up a bit.

I do have a very loud stereo but I don't bump in my neighborhood when I coming in or going out and that is when I hear the noise and it's been driving me crazy. I don't like to advertise to the neighborhood thief's come steal my 2500.00 sound system.

Last night I read a thread that had a similar problem and it was the tie-rods. I got under the Explorer and my brother-in-law was pushing the truck up and down and I had a bunch of play in my tie-rods.

I bough the inner and outer tie-rods today and I hope this is the fix.

 

[joe doe]

sure is alot to fix on explorers isnt there?lol......ask me how i know..haha.
i hear ya on the stereo advertizment .i have put quite a bit of money in my ex too.
about 1200.00 since november.so i know what your going thru .

 

[janolsson]

Lower ball joint!
To qualify, i had this prob and couldn't feel any play on the wheel when jacked up but i did have wear on the inner edge of the tire. So after readin some other threads i plumped for the ball joint. Once i removed it i could not believe how sloppy it was compared with the new. You could always lift off the knuckle to do a thorough check.

Also check your droplinks with the wheels on the ground. Give them a good waggle

Well i was close!! it was my second guess lol

 

[ZAID*512]

Update: Well guys I hate to say this but I changed the outer tie-rods (bad) and the inner tie-rods that really were not bad and Guess what I still have the clunk noise. I also took off the rotors and repacked the inner and outer bearings today.

Man the ride is great at all speeds except the slow stop and go I get the freaking clunk noise. The motor and tranny are smooth for all the miles I have and this noise is starting to piss me off. I am starting to get a slight tranny leak but I haven't found any loose or missing bolts. The other day I also flushed the rear differential fluid as well.

Oh yeah, I greased the lower ball joints that I changed about two years ago. Now all I have left is to grease are the upper ones but I need to get a flexible attachment for my grease gun.

Can the ball joints go bad in two years with normal driving conditions? Would adding grease fix a sloppy joint or would I have to replace them?

I have tightened every bolt on the front end suspension and the only thing I haven't recently replaced are the upper and lower ball joints, but they were changed two years ago.

Tomorrow I will try to make a video maybe this will help you all get a better idea.

Thanks for all the input so far, this forum has helped me fix many things and I really am grateful for all the shared knowledge.

 

[janolsson]

The LBJ can go bad in 2 years if its had a hard life/was a cheap one/was fitted badly/dried up. Once it's worn pumping grease will only quiet it a tiny bit. When its worn the ball moves up and down in the cup, hence the clunk. If its really worn the ball could jump out of the cup all together and then your wheel will go sideways (ask me how i know, an old saab). This is why earlier i suggested lifting the knuckle off the BJ to check for play on the joint without the weight.
Hope you find the source of the annoyance.
regards

 

[jseabolt]

I also changed out the Lower Control Arm bushings front and rear. What a freaking nightmare unless you got the right tool to pop them out and press them in I don’t suggest trying this. It took me all day to get them out and I had to go to the auto part store like 5 times to rent different tools to try to do this job.

I don't know if this will work on an Explorer but I've heard of people placing control arm bushings in a freezer for overnight. This will shrink the rubber and make them slide right in. I've never tried this myself. Just know one guy said he did this and if worked great.

 

[ZAID*512]

Mystery Solved, and The Winner is Turdle with "Check the Transmission mount" suggestion.

Well that was the cheapest part that I replaced 9.99 at AZ. It took about an hour and it got a bit tricky, you know 4 bolts looks so easy sometimes.

So this is all that I did: Changed the U-Joints, greased the Slip Yoke, flushed the rear differential fluid, changed the upper and lower ball joints, changed the inner and outer tie-rods, changed the sway bar bushings, upgraded to the red poly sway bar link bushings, repacked the inner and outer wheel bearings, and finally the noise was conquered with the Tranny Mount!!!

Hell Yeah!!!

Thanks everyone for all the help I guess I saved around 2000-3500 in labor alone this week.

The Explorer is running great, my stereo system is sounding great, and now for the new rims.

I went to the junk yard and fixed all my interior issues so now the car looks pretty clean inside for being 16 years old.

I also did the LED 3rd Brake light upgrade, fixed my Odometer/Trip, fix my passenger side window it would fall forward when I lowered it, troubleshoot a broken power wire for my power mirrors and cleaned some corroded contacts on the left/right motor for the passenger side mirror.

This forum has been a big blessing for me and I couldn't have done it all with out the great insight from all the awesome threads/post.

It's been a busy week and a half and I must have went through 3 bottles of orange hand cleaner, but it sure feels good to work on your own car.

I will post some pics after I paint the faded front and rear pillars and get the new rims.

Thanks Again,
ZAID*512

 

[janolsson]

Well done dude, way to stick with it.
People can't get the same driving satisfaction with their new cars serviced and fixed by the garage. I drive around with a smile on my face knowing i've fixed it myself (usually thanks to the forum) and saved mucho hard earned cash.
Keep it up and show us your baby