metal hitting noise under front end

[IxHolyFordxI]

Hi everyone I need some help before I deciede to take my 1998 FORD EXPLORER xlt to a mechanic. Well recently I been hearing a loud clanking noise kinda like moderate pitched metal hitting back and forth when I make right turns sometimes and when I go on uneven dirt terrain. I thought it was my passenger side cv axle since the boot was ripped. But I replaced it and its still making the same noise in the same situations. Any help is appreciated thanks

 

[StryctNy9e]

Check all bushings. Especially sway bar ends and radius arm bushings. These parts work independently so the noise can come from either side. I figured this out with my 1993 by driving over speed bumps diagnally so each tire hits at different times, narrowing down the side of the noise and help pinpoint point of origin. Also helps if you stand outside the truck and have somone else drive so you can hear the noise more clearly. Hope this helps or gives you a place to start. Good luck.

 

[gmanpaint]

Not uncommon to have a popping noise on these vehicles. Hard to trace sometimes too. I had a metal on metal pop myself.

One place that is hard to track down is, the torsion bar pads on the frame. When the t-bar unloads & loads back up, it will smack the frame pad. The pads wear down and eventually, exposed metal shows.

Another hard to spot area is the front dif mounts. There are 3 mounts, and the rear mount has a rubber bushing.

The last hard to spot area is the Power steering rack mounts. These bushings can wear and cause slop in the mounts.

Bad ball joints / tie rods (inner & outer) / control arm bushings / sway bar links are the obvious places to look.

Good luck!

 

[IxHolyFordxI]

Thanks for both if your advise I'm going to check all the areas you guys mentioned and hopefully its not something to serious

 

[ExploderN00b]

hey guys, ive got a smacking sound coming from my right side too. a friend and I had come to the possible conclusion that it could be my ball joint. But after nosing around the other day i discovered that the passenger side connection to what looked like my track bar was missing and the distance (about 3 inches give or take) seemed reasonable that this was likely the cause. Now on MY vehicle, 93 YJ 4.5" lift, ive got my front track bar disconnected and it doesnt really cause too many issues. Can't corner as tightly at speed but who cares.

Anway my question is, on these explorers do i really need the track bar? can i just disconnect the driver side or should i fix the passenger side?

but going off what was stated earlier ill have her drive over a speed bump or something and see if thats it. Any help is greatly appreciated!!

 

[Slowy]

Hi everyone I need some help before I deciede to take my 1998 FORD EXPLORER xlt to a mechanic. Well recently I been hearing a loud clanking noise kinda like moderate pitched metal hitting back and forth when I make right turns

wow.. i logged on just to post the same thing!
mine sounds like a have a piece of paper stuck to my drivers side front tire. it only 'clicks/slaps' when steering right and is directly proportional to vehicle speed (faster speed, faster clicks/slaps)

i'm heading out to do the spark plugs, so i'll look around

 

[King$nake]

For what its worth, the heat shields on my catalytic converters would rattle and made similar noises to what you are saying. Not sure what could be knocking in the front end though

 

[Slowy]

i just checked and pulled stuff around. the only thing that is loose that i can MAKE a metal clanking/click/slap sound would be the sway bar end link (that 5-6" bar that comes down from the sway bar(didn't know if i had the term right))

i may just replace those anyway since they are probably cheap and my passenger side one is crap

 

[Slowy]

yesterday i got the front in the air, took of the front drivers side tire, took off the caliper and spun the rotor around, wiggled it. wiggled everything else around there.
noticed that i forgot to reattach my body to frame ground straps, so i did that

put everything back together and its fine now??
maybe i knocked whatever was clicking loose. idk