Loud Pop, loose steering high speeds

[Rahoolio]

Hi All, I have been a longtime reader of this forum and it has helped me so many times in the past just looking up threads from other users. An issue has popped up that I can't seem to find much information on.

My vehicle is a 2000 Ford Explorer Limited

At highway speeds, I noticed the steering is a loose and even has a feeling of a slight sway left to right and back again... A few days ago, I was turning right into a parking lot and heard a very loud pop, which felt and sounded like it came from the front suspension area, but not positive. I have quickly looked under the vehicle but nothing looks broken but haven't yet put the vechicle on a jack to check for loose tires.

Any tips on what the problem might be, how to properly diagnose at home? I really hate to take it to the shop but we have a family trip coming up in two weeks so want to take care of this Saturday if I can do it at home. Thanks for any tips or ideas.

From what I was able to read on the site, it may be tie rods, sway bar, bushings, and the list goes on and on and I'm not sure how to diagnose properly.

Perhaps this is one that I end up taking to the mechanic?

Thanks again,
Rahoolio

 

[alohamonte]

Popping over bumps is usually associated with worn out ball joints.

Popping through turns could be loose sway bar endlinks and if you heard a single loud bang it could be one of them failing. I've had an endlink fail and when it broke it tore the CV axle boot.

You need to take a look under there and see what's going on. All the boots should be intact (ball joints, tied rods, cv) and the endlinks should be snug (no wiggle).

You could also have a loose shock. If a shock bolt comes apart it can bang around.

 

[koda2000]

You need to take the truck to an alignment shop and have it diagnosed ASAP. Even if you are capable of doing the repairs yourself, if you don't know how to check your ball joints and tie rod ends you need to find someone that can. Broken sway bar end links are common, but they don't go "pop" they tend to clunk when going over bumps and while turning. End links aren't a big deal, but having a ball joint or tie rod end let go will ruin your whole day (and quite possibly someone else's day too).

 

[toypaseo]

At highway speeds, I noticed the steering is a loose and even has a feeling of a slight sway left to right and back again... A few days ago, I was turning right into a parking lot and heard a very loud pop, which felt and sounded like it came from the front suspension area, but not positive.

Kinda sounds like what happened to me. I went over some railroad tracks with a rather bad dip on the other side, and heard a something like a "pop". I didn't really think about it, I just figured I hit the bumpstops or something. On another occasion, I was backing out of my driveway, same noise when my front end dropped into the street.

On the highway, it felt like the rear end was kicking out on certain bumps. Crossing the centerline after passing, it would rock back and forth. I figured shock(s) were blown, rear endlinks were bad, or the rear axle damper was shot. Everything looked fine back there, but I replaced the axle damper, since it was cheap. I inspected the front, and there was the problem. Passenger endlink was 100% missing. It was an aftermarket Moog unit that was only a bit over a year old. I threw a temporary junkyard unit just to get by, and that restored my ride back to where it was. I am replacing the junkyard one with another Moog unit, found on eBay for $8.63 shipped, http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3501174#post3501174 .

 

[Robman]

The pop was most likely the top of a swaybar link popping off under pressure. Not a huge deal. Get some new links. First sway bar link i ever had fail was the stock kind and it made a loud pop noise when it went.

 

[awd_explorer]

How about a constant popping only on left turns and sudden acceleration from stop light or sign. Sounds like gears clanking and failing to lock up only on left side?????

 

[Rahoolio]

Thanks for the replies. So I got under there this morning and all looks ok. There is a little play from 3 to 9 on the passenger front tire but not much, less than half an inch play. All the bushings look fairly new, sway bar is intact, upper ball joint seals are showing serious cracks, but again not much play in the tire shake test. The outer tie rod end does twist very easily in my hand, but no popping or clicking sounds. Should that tie rod twist so easily in my hands for a quarter turn?

 

[Robman]

If it was the top of a sway bar link that popped off, it may still appear at a quick glance to be fine. You really should confirm that the sway bar links are indeed 100%.

Grab on to them with your hand and give them a yank. There should be no movement.

 

[Rahoolio]

So after getting the tires off, i checked the tie rod ends and the inside were both shot. Went ahead and replaced both inside and outside tie rods. Tomorrow I guess I'm off to get an alignment. Rob, i checked the sway bar but tomorrow I will get back under there and give a good yank from a few spots to make sure. Thanks again!

 

[SoNic67]

If the inside tire rod ends where worn, how where the outside ones? Usually they go bad first.
Also 1/2 inch play in the tires at 3-9 is a lot, especially at highway speeds. No wonder you felt that you where going all over.

 

[Flash]

How about a constant popping only on left turns and sudden acceleration from stop light or sign. Sounds like gears clanking and failing to lock up only on left side?????

You should probably start a new thread for this question, but, it sounds like CV joints.

 

[Flash]

Thanks for the replies. So I got under there this morning and all looks ok. There is a little play from 3 to 9 on the passenger front tire but not much, less than half an inch play. All the bushings look fairly new, sway bar is intact, upper ball joint seals are showing serious cracks, but again not much play in the tire shake test. The outer tie rod end does twist very easily in my hand, but no popping or clicking sounds. Should that tie rod twist so easily in my hands for a quarter turn?

None of that will reveal if you have a bad lower ball joint.

When you're getting your wheel alignment after the tie rod replacement they should check the whole suspension.

1/2 inch tie rod play

 

[Robman]

If it's a pop noise that happens all of a sudden+ sways like hell when turning than it's likely a sway bar link.. otherwise things come on slowly.