odd thump noise from under front end | Ford Explorer Forums

  • Register Today It's free!

odd thump noise from under front end

hazmat456

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 27, 2007
Messages
191
Reaction score
0
City, State
tomah wi
Year, Model & Trim Level
1997 mercury mountaineer
so I've got this odd noise happening that doesn't really seem to be repeatable.it normally happens when I'm turning, but not always. Had the truck up in the air today and couldn't find anything. The only noise I could make by pushing, pulling, turning the wheels is the popping of the boots on the steering rack,which I wouldn't think is loud enough to be heard in the cabin.
By the way the whole front end is basically new
steering rack, inner and outer tie rods,half-shafts all the u-joints are less than a year old
upper and lower ball joints are about two years; lifetime replacement form napa
fluids all look good u-joints and ball joints feel solid
not too much play in the front diff I can turn one tire about 3 or 5 degrees of rotation before the other starts to turn backwards with the truck in park, I assume this is normal as I have always been able to do this.

If anybody has any suggestions I would appreciate them.
 






could still be a bad CV regardless of how old they are. Just like anything else, it could last 200 miles, or 200,000miles, you just don't know.
 






Couple of ideas:
1.)Grease the cv joint in the front driveshaft.
2.) Torsion bar isolater pads?
3.) Sway bar end links worn/missing?
4.) Check all suspension nuts/bolts. I had a loose upper control arm bolt that would allow the arm to move, and "pop". The bolt didn't look loose, until you had someone turn the wheel/bounce the front end, and you could watch the arm move.
5.) Bushings/Bolts for the front diff mounts to the frame?
6.) Motor/Tranny mounts?
 






Featured Content

Back
Top