My front end is clunking. It's not a wheel bearing or CV axle shafts.

[thelub]

a front end "clunking" randomly appeared in the front of my g/f's 93 XL 4.0l E-AWD. It only occurs under power. under light throttle pressure it doesn't make a noise, and it doesn't matter if i'm turning or driving in a straight line. its a very patterned metal on metal sound. It came on rather suddenly, starting one day a little bit and by the end of the day it was pretty much constant.

I thought it might be a CV shaft, because i heard it distinctly coming from one side, and felt it on the driver side floor board. I changed out the driver side CV shaft, put it all back together and there was no change in the sound or intensity.

I looked at the passenger side shaft and it was pretty bad so i changed IT. Put it all back together and still no change in sound or intensity. when i was changing out the driver side CV shaft, i noticed the hub was loose and could probably use a replacement. so i replaced it, with NO CHANGE in the sound or intensity.

i've read around and now i think it might be a trans mount. it seems that when the driveline system is under torque, it makes the clunking, almost like a yoke is moving and knocking around on a subframe component somewhere.

sorry for the novel, but im really stuck!

 

[corkey]

i bet it's the sway bar bushing where it goes through to the other side,,

 

[thelub]

does the sway bar vibrate when under load? they are pretty shot. a lot of the rubber bushings are. it just doesnt seem that a sway bar would vibrate like that, but i don't know a lot about how the suspension acts when under load....can those be replaced in a garage or do they have to be pressed in/out?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Check the upper control arm bushings, and the U joints. You will need a C clamp ball joint press to replace these parts. By the way, did you check the tie rods & ball joints?

 

[thelub]

I found the problem. The front diff mount sheared off where it bolts to the subframe. It doesn't look like a new development as the metal isn't shiny like it broke recently. I'm guessing other mounting bolts might have been holding it up out of the way and they worked loose over time. Now I just gotta figure out how to fix it. I can't get at it from the ground with the vehicle only being held up in the air witb a scisser jack

 

[corkey]

have to take the diff out, and maybe get the broken bolt out, than put it all back in, and a new bolt,

 

[thelub]

Its not a bolt that broke, its a mount. The one right next to the starter and collector

 

[BrooklynBay]

Thanks for the update! You should use ramps with jack stands.

 

[thelub]

you mean 2 scisser jacks arent the proper way to go??? i know what i should be using, i'm just having to do this with a very limited set of tools. hopefully i'll be able to get access to a friends shop that has a lift, power tools and all the goodies i would need to do this job the correct way.

 

[FORDBOYpete]

TheLub,
I couldn't agree more with Brooklyn Bay & others who'll say do it safely do it right & do it well. At least use ramps, Jack Stands are better yet, But Best would be the lift in a shop with powertools etc. etc.
BTW Good Luck, hope it goes very well for you, & keep us posted on your job & your success with the repair.
CIAO
FBp