Loud knocking from Drivers side front wheel well

[JackCloudie]

Awhile back I had an issue causing a serious vibration through out the entire vehicle, luckily it was the rear U-Joint had somehow loosened, and had 1/4" to 1/2" of travel. Around the same time, I also had a loud knocking show up, almost like a kid with a card stuck to slap against the spokes on his bike, but louder.

While on the way to drop it off with the mechanic who solved the U-Joint issue, it mysteriously stopped. And I stupidly thought nothing of it, beyond mentioning it had stopped to the mechanic.

Well. Its back. Step-dad had the "mechanic" on the jobsite where we work look around, and see what it might be, and ended up replacing what I believe is the front drivers side wheel bearing. It was the bit with the bolts that the lugnuts screw down to to hold the wheel on.

I'm taking the vehicle to the mechanic this weekend, but I need it all week for work and I'm worried if thats just going to harm things even more. Any ideas?

Edit: For completeness sake, it's a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer AWD 5.0 V8.

(If this is the wrong place to ask, I'm sorry, It's already been a hell of a week and im at my wits' end. I'd appreciate it if a mod could move where the thread needs to be.)

 

[swshawaii]

Loud knocking sounds like it could be a broken drivers side front sway bar end link. Probably the single most
common suspension failure with Explorers. To check, use a small hammer and tap on them. If so, replace both.

http://www.moogparts.com/pdf/proble...letin_213006_Sway_Bar_Link_Eng.pdf?download=1

 

[JackCloudie]

Took a picture of my sway bar, and trying to upload to imgur, crap signal where I'm at so I will probably have to add it in later. Compared to the one in the pdf you linked. it looks fine. Tapped on most everything on it. and around it, and nothing moved.

I checked a guide on how to go about fixing a broken sway bar, saw it said "clunk when htting pot holes and the like". When i described it as a card in your bike spokes, i meant it literally. The sound happens when accelerating, and grows more frequent and slow as I slow. Edit: As long as the vehicle is in motion its thunking away. It only stops sometimes while coasting or gently accelerating.

 

[swshawaii]

Tapped on most everything on it. and around it, and nothing moved.

When i described it as a card in your bike spokes, i meant it literally. The sound happens when accelerating, and grows more frequent and slow as I slow.

Broken sway bar end link noise is definitely NOT rotational, and doesn't change with speed. Probably best to go with your plan and
have the suspension unloaded and inspected by your tech. Don't rule out brakes though, especially loose caliper bolts on the spindle. GL

 

[JackCloudie]

Brakes were replaced recently, but the initial showing of the issue was before they were.

Could it be something to do with the front drive train?

 

[swshawaii]

^ Likely, especially if the pitch changes with speed. Check everything that turns, including CV's. Puzzled by the "card in the spokes" though.

a card stuck to slap against the spokes on his bike, but louder.

 

[drdoom]

Check the brake caliper bracket, and drive axle too.

 

[JackCloudie]

^ Likely, especially if the pitch changes with speed. Check everything that turns, including CV's. Puzzled by the "card in the spokes" though.

I mean something like this

Check the brake caliper bracket, and drive axle too.

Front driver brake anything shouldn't be loose in any form. Had to pull off the brake rotor, and everything else, to replace the wheel bearing. Can't check now, left the vehicle on jobsite so I don't have to drive it as much, and still have a way to get around while there.

Do you mean the shaft below the sway bar in this http://i.imgur.com/uH0HzFT.jpg picture?