Help with a mysterious clunking noise

[bumpin_99]

I hear a clunking/popping noise coming from the front of my 2001 explorer sport. It happens when I put on my brakes (not all the time), when i turn (without hitting the brakes), and going down the road (sometimes when hitting bumps). These clunking noises don't happen all the time. I do feel vibrations at my feet when the clunking noise happens. I first thought it was my brakes but I just had them replaced a 4-6 months ago. I tried jumping on front of my truck and on the sides to see if I could hear that noise but didnt hear anything. I thought maybe it is barrings so I shook the my front tires to see if there was any noise but again I didn't hear anything. If anyone has any ideas please email me at illinibball89@hotmail.com or send me a message.

Thanks for your help.

 

[masospaghetti]

How many miles are on all of your front suspension parts (tie rods, upper and lower control arms, shocks, sway bar links and bushings)? Difficult to know what is worn out but these parts certainly don't last forever. 2WD or 4WD? 2WD models have an unsealed wheel bearing which may need to be tightened. 4WD models have a sealed bearing that isn't servicable.

Your sway bar will "clunk" when rapidly changing directions at low speed (go about 10-15 mph and swerve...away from traffic, of course), since the sway bar's function is to reduce the amount of lean when cornering, and by swerving you are placing a load on the bar. If the clunk happens when going over a bump straight, its probably not your sway bar, but could be your shocks or control arms.

If you're not sure, and/or the sway bar links and bushings look questionable, just replace them first - its cheap and relatively easy. FWIW, when I was shopping for my current Explorer, I test drove multiple that had bad sway bar link bushings (two of them actually had at least one bushing completely missing). NAPA has link kits that will service both sides for about $20, and the sway bar bushings themselves for $10 or so.

 

[bumpin_99]

How many miles are on all of your front suspension parts (tie rods, upper and lower control arms, shocks, sway bar links and bushings)? Difficult to know what is worn out but these parts certainly don't last forever. 2WD or 4WD? 2WD models have an unsealed wheel bearing which may need to be tightened. 4WD models have a sealed bearing that isn't servicable.

Your sway bar will "clunk" when rapidly changing directions at low speed (go about 10-15 mph and swerve...away from traffic, of course) as this loads and unloads the car. If the clunk happens when going over a bump straight, its probably not your sway bar, but could be your shocks or control arms.

I have 126k on my truck. It is 4x4. Only thing I have replaced out of those things you wrote so far are the shocks and that was about 60k miles ago.

 

[DUNE RCR]

Check your brake caliper brackets. I had mine come a little loose one time and had a mysterious clunking.

 

[swshawaii]

I have 126k on my truck. It is 4x4. Only thing I have replaced out of those things you wrote so far are the shocks and that was about 60k miles ago.

At 126K, you are on borrowed time to replace both lower ball joints.
Raise the wheels by the lower control arms, and pry up under each tire
by lifting up and checking for any movement. 1/32" is considered worn.

 

[98ExplorerGuy]

I have had the same problem twice in the life of my 98 Explorer (currently 182k miles). Both times, it turned out to be a failing transfer case. Cost me about $600 to put in a junkyard (or was it a rebuilt?) replacement each time. Would have cost less if I had done the work myself but that wasn't practical.

Also, the problem became much more apparent when the the two front tires were mismatched as to tread depth/overall tire diameter.