klonk, klonk from drivers side front

[O.Madsen]

Hey guys.

I have noticed that when driving and hitting small potholes ir as little things as cracks in the asfalt, my drvers side front (as far as i can determine) makes small "klonk" sounds.
I have been searching about this and the only thing i can think of might possibly work is the greasing of the slip yoke. But then again.. Im not sure, cause sometimes, i am doubting if i even feels it a bit in the steering column. Again. Not sure :scratch:

im not a novice in working on cars - not an expert either, but i have never had an explorer before - not even a 4x4. So i was wondering if any of you guys knew about common issues that realtes to this - and/or how to check & fix..

Im hoping for some help and advice.

Thanks!

Ole

 

[Mark98]

My guess would be a ball joint. Try jacking up the driver's side tire and check for wobbles by grabbing 12 and 6 o clock on the tire.

 

[O.Madsen]

Thanks. I already did this yesterday. But no matter how hard i pull and go nuts trying to feel any "wobbling" there is not the slightest thing.
I will try again today with a friend of mine who´s a real gorilla, but i doubt we will find any.

By the way. I´m in spain. Ford here is the european Ford. Theyre a bit reluctant to help out if i need parts. Its not easy finding anything for an american truck. But i have found an auto salvage (is that the name?) where they have 3 x´s - same model as mine. And i was wondering a bit if i could possibly use a balljoint for example.. Im not sure how great idea that is, really. That kind of parts i guess - are not really something i have ever tried to find in places like that.

Anyways. If some of you know a place that you can trust and ships to Spain, i would love to know. The ones i have found so far uses some weird money transactions, that i dont know and scres me a bit to use.. Dont want to get screwed...

Thanks!

Ole

 

[JDraper]

Another common cause of klunks in the front end of Gen II Explorers are the sway bar end links. An easy check is to disconnect them and carefully take it for a test drive. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to replace.

 

[O.Madsen]

ok.. Stupid question. What do they look like? Im sorry. 4x4´s are all new to me.. And im used to small european cars.. they dont have stuff like this..

An instruction would be cool! (and u can laugh a bit if you want to -- thats ok.. ) ;-)

thanks!

Ole

 

[PercyLT]

You may find information and pictures easily by searching through the threads.

I rarely make a post, but have searched trough the site for a long time now, it has answered almost all my questions regarding Explorers. I also live outside the US, but of course, in Madrid it is even more unusual to see an Explorer.

I had the same problem, ¿does the sound and also the klunk sensation come from under the drivers side or does it feel to be coming from closer to the wheel? In my case, the sound and klunking resulted to be a combination of problems, the torsion bar adjusters (which have a kevlar cover), the sway bar bushings and the hub assembly (the hub assembly must be replaced as a unit, there is no replaceable bearing in such assembly, including the abs sensors).

 

[O.Madsen]

Damn. If its closer to where i am sitting or to the wheel... Thats a tough one. I really cannot tell. And i cant say for sure it is "from there". But. I took a 100 km drive today, and concentrated on this. I can feel this in my left foot as well. And. Being in a queue today - allying brakes - and not made me actually feel a "wobble in the steeing column" like.. wants to go forwards braking and back hitting the gas.. So. its from the front. No doubt. Driver side - almost sure. You dont feel the "klonk" in the passenger side floor.
On top of that, i actually think i can hear the "klonks" driving in even road. Very very quiet - almost impossible to hear. But hitting a crack or something the "klonk" is there, and can be felt too in the floor. Its not a loud sound.

It just sounds like something "is loose".

This is really difficult when you have had the truck for 5 days and dont know it well. For example. I think there is a lot of "hum" when driving it. If i knew my truck, maybe i would change a bearing... but i dont. Might as well be noise from the tires. And on top of that, i have never heard "klonks" from a worn down bearing. Is that plausible its the bearing? I dont really think so... What experiences have you had?

Troubleshooting on a vehicle you dont know yet, is not easy!

Thanks so far. I will beat this and stop worrying and just enjoy my explorer. I look forward to that!

Ole

 

[JohnnyBoy1102]

Sway Bar Bushings. i am almost positive of it. my X did the same thing for a while it sounds like something bouncing around when you hit bumps its just the ends of the sway bar banging around. Theres a thread for the sway bar bushing removal and replacement on here.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195135

Its a sticky in the Stock 95 to 01 Explorer section. honestly this is a very easy task takes about 20 to 30 minutes if your just swapping the links. now if your going to remove the bar entirely and clean it it will probly take about an hour or so longer. to find the sway bar just look about a foot or so behind the bumper and youll see a round bar about 2 inches thick running from one wheel to another and its mounted up on the frame rail.

 

[PercyLT]

I agree about the sway bar bushings; it is easy to test if that is the problem, disconnect the end links as stated in this same thread, for the rest, the link with pictures has already been posted.

About the hum check for wheel play and (although it is not recommended by the manufacturer) you may grease the hub assembly as explained in Aaron's Mountaneer page at this same forum: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=819840&highlight=grease#post819840

 

[O.Madsen]

Thanks for the advice. I will check all this tomorrow. I hope i will find the error. and also find the parts i need when i know what i have to order.

Thanks! Have a lovely weekend Y´all!

Ill be bach when i (hopeflly figure it all out)

Ole

 

[O.Madsen]

Well.. Been sick the last few days, so i havent been out to test any of your suggestions yet unfortunately.. But i will soon.

BUT! another thing! i found this little shop in the centre of madrid.. With is ONLY about parts for northamerican vehicles! Thats really really nice. Now i have a place to go!

Ill be back!

Ole

 

[O.Madsen]

Finally.

I needed to get the car lifted in order to check the various stuff that could cause the "klonking"..

I winded up going to a big place that fixes everything from big trucks to small car - regarding brand. This turned out to be a REALLY good idea. I got "assigned" to an an old mechanic there. and he was really really clever and listened for once.

Even before he touched the car he asked if this truck has "active" suspension and if there were something he should know. I showed him where to turn it off ans so on.
I trust this man and he seemxs really skilled... It quicly came clear that it IS the torsion bar bushings. the small ones. Not the ones to the chassis. ( i dont know the name, sorry) Lifting the car up is priceless. You just dont see as much crawling around on the ground.

Now for the even cooler thing.. I have had trouble finding parts for this vehicle here in spain. I did fond a place i could buy them, but. Expensive and it take a ****load of time.. But.. I asked the mechanic if he could get new bushings. And he looked at me as if a was an idiot and said "of course".

I ended up asking him to change my brakes as well as i found out that the disks looked kind of bad, a transmission fluid change incl. new filter, and motoroil and filter as well.
And just do a general "tune up" and check if everything is alright.. Im taking it for a 600 Km drive to Portugal with the Mrs. in a week, so i want to make sure everything is peachy.. Otherwise, i have to do the trip in her Toyota Yaris.. And that sucks more than anything i can imagine... Driving 600 on bad spanish roads in a shopping cart, where u have to go fom 5th to 3rd hwen you hit a steep hill.. Its an awful little city car..

They can get all the parts without any problem at all.. And at a decent price too. And a lot faster than i expected. So this was just really awesome i went to that place. I have never had any of my cars in shops before. I generally dont trust any mechanics, so i have always done most of the stuff myself. But im happy this was a different experience to the positive side...

AND! as im writing this, im looking out my office window down at the shop and i can see my truck getting some love from the mechanic.. Its right next to my office.. So.. its a good day today!

Thanks for all your help guys!

Ole

 

[Danson]

check your inner tie rods, i have the same problem and i was told that they are knocking around and need to be replaced

 

[O.Madsen]

I have checked them as well as i could, and the mecanic had a go at them too. But it seems like the trouble is from the swaybar bushings almost being eaten away.

If it rolls of the lift and i still get the sound it will definately be the first to check again. But i sure hope i will get rid of the sound. It really gives me bad nerves. Literally.

Anyways.. Speed is not something spanish people are familiar with. I am still waiting on the truck to come home... Frustrating how nothing needs to go fast here.. (I havent gotten used to that "siesta-attitude" yet.LOL. I live in Spain, but im danish)...

I will keep you posted. Whenever the siesta is over and i get my vehicle.. ;-)

Ole

 

[O.Madsen]

Got the truck home today!

And everything is GREAT..

But the mechanic, nice as he is, changed the airfilter as well, cause it needed to.. It was just a waste of money and i actually asked him not to do it, cause im a few days away from getting my K&N filter for my box.. So.. I told him, and he took it off my bill..:

On top of that, i asked them to put a grille guard as well i found 2. hand.. I is for my model even, but there was some brackets missing, so they had to do some fabrication, and they winded up spending WAY too many hours making it sit perfectly. But they only charged me for 5 hours.. From the apprentice...

All in all. Everything is fine now. And i have found a nice place to go to again..

So on friday morning. Its off to Portugal, drinking port wine and eating squid..

Ole