clunk, clunk

[99 XLT]

hey guys, im starting to get this terrible clunking noise when i hit bumps, even small ones, it doesnt sound to good. Should i be in line for new upper ball joints? or what else could cause this noise? --> 99 4dr,4wd, 120k on the odometer.

 

[matt987]

well, i had/have the same problem with my 1995 xlt. i replaced the upper control arms and ball joints, lower ball joints, and all new shock absorbers. the only thing i didnt change were the bushings.. i think that is where the problem is for me.. i hear the noise when i slowly hit a bump (leaving driveway or speedbump).. it costed a small chunk of change to do the replacements, but to me it was nescessary, i dont like hearing unusual noises.

 

[DocSam]

this sounds like me too! I just bought a 2000 XLS, heard an awful clunking noise and took it to the mechanic. He replaced the front shocks and control arms. It sounds better but not gone. Its driving me crazy!!! When you spend money you want it to sound like a dream! So I think maybe I'll try the lower ball joints and bushings. He also said something about the sway bar needing to be replaced in the near future. Could this be causing the noise too?

 

[matt987]

yes, it could be..but i dont see it as being the main problem, because it would make noise during a turn and not just when going staraight. i think the problem is in the bushings. thats the only thing i did not replace and the noise is still there..

 

[Joey P]

Check the torsion bar keys. The pad that seperates them from metal to metal contact are made of kevlar and from what I've read, Those are a weak point on the suspension and they may be your problem. Do a search and you should be able to find some writups on this. I think they may also be called torsion bar adjusters or torsion bar isolator keys?

 

[SPORTN-A-TRAC]

I had a similiar clunk noise that took a few weeks to figure out on my '01 Sport Trac with 90k. It came from only the passenger side when going over sharp bumps. I replaced upper control arm/ ball joint, lower ball joint, sway bar endlinks, took apart torsion bar adj./pad (looked fine). Just so happen to bump the back of my brake caliper with my arm one day and it moved up! The lower backside mounting bolt was m.i.a. The clunk noise came from the caliper bouncing up and tag'n the inside of my rim. $1.25 for a new bolt from Ace Hardware

 

[anthonytony]

I have a 2000 sport that sounded like the front end was comming out of it' as you know they are no grease fittings so i went to my local autozone and picked up the ole trusty grease gun and picked up a grease needle and came home jacked the 2000 sport up and went to town on the upper and lower ball joints .no sounds at all and i done this around this time last year...gl

 

[RJOHN929]

How do you use the grease needle? I think I'm going to give that a shot before I tear the whole thing apart.

 

[Turdle]

Nobody has mentioned the swaybar endlinks.

 

[Lizard]

I 'second' the front stabilizer bar end links....

 

[nolimitssjca]

I had the same issue as SPORTN-A-TRAC. Drove me crazy trying to figure out why it clucked and rattled. Lost a bolt on the caliper.