Ok, well I don't see any "new thread" link to post in the tech forum so hopefully this will do.
Some background first. I've got a 97 Explorer 4.0L, Automatic, 4x4 with 137K miles. I bought this truck two years ago with a burnt up tranny. I paid over 1700.00 to get transmission rebuilt.
In the last 6 months I've put new upper and lower ball joints, inner and outer tie rods, sway bar bushings and end links, and new shocks. I got an alignment done by a local mechanic.
Recently I have begun hearing a "thumping" sound from the front end. I checked the tires and I don't see any visual damage and they still have plenty of tread. The tires were brand new and recently installed when I got the truck. Just to be sure I had the tires rebalanced to ensure that wasn't the problem but it still continues. I checked all the parts on the front end and all seems tight except I found the two bolts that hold the upper control arm for the front passenger side were loose. I don't know if the mechanic didn't tighten them down or if they worked there way loose. The left side of the upper control arm, where it slides onto the frame, is slid as far out as it can get and the right side is slid all the way back towards the engine as it can get. Now I don't know much about alignments but it really doesn't look right.
Is it possible the alignment was thrown off again and it has affected the camber so much it causes this thumping sound?
Also, I haven't changed the wheel bearings. Could they cause a thumping?
The strange thing is that the thumping really occurs when I'm going forward, but not so much in reverse. I can back the truck down the road and not really hear the thumping from the front end.
What could this mean? Any ideas on where I should be looking?
