Rear "clunk" on a 98

[nssj2]

I was laughing with my buddies the other day, and reminded me of a problem with my old 98 SOHC 4wd. There was a really bad clunk in the rear when cornering. Only happened when the truck had more than just a driver in it. Took us a year+ to find, and many hours at local shops. Turned out to be an overload spring in back was slightly turned. A few of my buddies had the same problem, and i figure someone on here probably does too. Just a helpful hint i guess on the ongoing quest to silence an explorer of clunks and squeaks.

 

[jk051]

that sounds pretty similar to a clunk ive got in the rear end. I hear it only when going through left hand turns and i havent been able to figure out what the heck it is. Doesnt seem to be affected by # of passengers though... How did you end up fixing it?

 

[nssj2]

The Ford dealership said a rear overload spring had turned a quarter of a turn, so when a load was applied to it, the spring would shift, creating a clunk. Good luck!!

 

[Hoppy]

By overload spring do you mean one of the leaf springs had turned a bit? I am having the same clunk on my 2000 ex. I just put new rear shocks in it and also just tried disconnecting the stabilizer shock. Road tested it and no luck, still clunking. I pulled the truck into the garage and started rocking it by hand and the clunk was very evident then. I am going to get under it tomorrow and have my wife rock it to find out what is it, but I am having a feeling it is the rear anti sway bar.

Any suggestions?

 

[nssj2]

i dont know 100%, it was my moms and it was way back when. best bet is that its the pin that goes into the lower leaf of the pack (overload spring). make sure all the harware is tight (u bolts, front and rear leaf bolts, then bolts through the middle of the leafs)

 

[Hoppy]

I just went out and checked them and the bottom leafs were out of line. I smacked them back with a sledge hammer and the clunk is still there. I will have to investigate more tomorrow night to see what I can find. I have trouble thinking that it is the springs though. Perhaps it is, but with them out of line there is nothing that they will hit that I could evidently see.

 

[nssj2]

hum. im just going off what a dealer tech told us. if they are a little off though, might check for other things that would cause them to shift. look and see if theres any chaffing marks on the leafs

 

[IZwack]

Sometimes one of the leaves will rotate slightly and bind up against the gas tank skid pate -- so check around that area

 

[IZwack]

One more thing to check is the spare tire tucked behind the rear axle. If its loose, it will move around while driving (causing a clunk or whatever), and eventually the cable holding the spare tire will snap (its happened to a few people on the forum, including me)

 

[Hoppy]

I've checked my spare tire. It was completely flat, but refilled it and reinstalled it and still clunking. Ford did have a recall on the spare tire carrier a couple years back if I recall correctly, however I am not sure if it was for my first generation ex or my 97. They realized it was a problem that the cable rusted out so they recalled it because of safety issues to other people driving behind you. Check into it.

I will have a closer look tonight to see what the problem is. You do have a good point in which the leaf could hit the skid plate. I wonder how this could happen though. I never had this problem with my 92 or 97 ex's. Hmmm.

 

[CharlAnn]

I was laughing with my buddies the other day, and reminded me of a problem with my old 98 SOHC 4wd. There was a really bad clunk in the rear when cornering. Only happened when the truck had more than just a driver in it. Took us a year+ to find, and many hours at local shops. Turned out to be an overload spring in back was slightly turned. A few of my buddies had the same problem, and i figure someone on here probably does too. Just a helpful hint i guess on the ongoing quest to silence an explorer of clunks and squeaks.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105786&highlight=slip+yoke+thump

 

[nssj2]

little different than that. useful thread though.