Rear End Clunk

[TPLYNCH]

I've had a clunking from the rear for the last 5,000 miles or so. Have 33K on the truck. Happens when I hit bumps or go over speed bump. Brought it to the dealer. They replaced the rear shocks and the sway bar links, which was one of the fixes I found searching the site. Noise is still there tho. Heard the noise while standing outside last night... load clicking when the rear suspension moved. Anyone have another suggestion? Gonna bring it back to the dealer at next oil change (right before the warranty expires) and would like to have some other ideas when I'm talking with them.

 

[Rhett]

It could be the U-joints on the driveshaft. Get under your truck and grab the driveshaft with your hands, and try to move it from side-to-side, up-and-down, and so forth. If it gives a lot then it might be due for a U-joint replacement. The driveshaft should be pretty solid in there. I'd say U-joint replacement is a fairly common thing to go out once you get a lot of miles on the truck.

But also note that Ford u-joints have a reputation for making noise long before they actually fail altogether.

 

[Pemerling]

try tightening the spare tire. i know it sounds kinda stupid but on my old 93 the spare tire came down a little bit and made this huge thumping noise.. give it a try

 

[Exploder99]

my car started doing that when it was about 4days old. i guess that started my chain of bad luck with this car but what the dealer told me that it was the rear end was loose and they fixed it. started again a few months ago. i didnt realize it until quality control pointed it out to me on a test drive (needed another brake master cyl, that makes it the 4th one within 15k miles?) they again told me that the rear end was loose and plan on fixing it the next time that my car was there. ists been getting worse and more frequent. it used happen only when i would change directions, now it happens when i start off from a red light. i dont know what in or on the rear end is loose but thats all that they have been telling me. but then again they also tell me that 11mpg and a brake pedal that stays on the floor is normal. go figure.