Clanging Under Car

[merrick53]

everytime i seem to bring my explorer offroading and manage to hit a good sized bump and divet in the ground i can hear a loud clang and bang under my car. at first i thought it might be the shocks because theyre so old but i think its the radius arm hitting something can anyone gimme a broader view?

 

[DeRocha]

If your Radius arm bushings are worn the shaft can move around in the radius arm bracket causing noise whenever you hit a bump. How old are the bushings/when were they last replaced?

 

[merrick53]

i think they're stock from when the car was made, i got the car up on a jack yesterday and looked at them, they seem very worn and could be replaced but i think it very vell might be the radius arms cuz i hear a lound clanging poping noise on the front right side

 

[DeRocha]

Generally when Radius arm bushings are worn you will feel it right under the driver or (front) passenger's feet (where the frame brackets are located). Does it make noise when you hit small bumps or only larger ones? I am wondering if the bump stop is missing on the right side causing the shock to bottom out... Ball joints also come to mind (in terms of popping noises), are your's ok or are the loose?

Btw... we are planning a Cape cod Beach outing weekend of Aug 19th... Come visit the thread and add some input... We would like to take our trucks off-road, but don't know of any places to go (legally that is)...

 

[Photo Explorer]

yeh it sounds like the radius arm bushings. mine did the same thing. you will need to get a cutting wheel and two 1/4 in bolts. the radius arm bracket is rivetted to the frame rails. you should also get someone to help you. it took me and a friend about 3 hrs on a lift. if you have the haynes 1991-1998 repair manual and go to ch 8-14 you can find a diagram of the front end.