Replaced balljoints, front end still knocks slightly..

[inh]

I replaced all 4 ball joints with nice new and 'spensive MOOG ones, and replaced my DESTROYED wheel bearing assembly (do not EVER drive with a bent wheel ) but over slight bumps i can hear and feel a slight knock. I can feel it in the steering wheel. It has me a bit worried. Any ideas?

 

[Dan Whitaker]

It could be your rack & pinion bushings.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Maybe it is your tie rods, or front shocks.

 

[Afboy143]

+1 on tierod ends

Usually you do all four ball joins and tie rod ends and u shud b good

 

[pfeffer1728]

could someone post pictures of this stuff, cause i have knocking too but have no clue what to look at

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

make sure you lugs are all on tight...seriouslny i had 2 loose tonight and it was bumpy like that....as soon as i could i turneed into a parking lot and re-torques them all.

 

[BrooklynBay]

The Explorer lug nuts are torqued to 100 Ft. Lbs.

 

[alphabets13]

i had a real bad clunking noise when i would drive at low speeds and make turns, such as parking. it was the tie rod on the drivers side. had both of them replaced and everything is perfect. the mechanic said the tie rod literally fell apart in his hand. talk about preventative maintenance. the thing could not have lasted much longer

so, check the tie rods, they aren't expensive either.

 

[inh]

havent had much of a chance to drive it but when i threw the truck up on a lift, the wheel felt like it was about to fall off.. turns out the wheel bearing i replaced no more than 2 monthes ago was shot again.. quick trip to orielleys and i had it waranteed out, replaced it and was good to go. seems to have fixed everything except this slight knock that will only happen when i apply the brakes while backing up. it will knock once and thats it, then when i shift in to drive and go foreward, it will knock once and thats it. ive looked and cant find anything loose or shifting :s

 

[GJarrett]

Check your u-joints.

 

[explrths]

Could be a few things. I am going thru the same process. It id probably your tie rods if they havent been replaced. They are what turn the wheel. Also check your half shaft. My problem was very intermtent. Basically, jack up the front of your truck...Lock the steering wheel and see if you et anymovement left/right. Next, see if you have any play in the shaft. I actually had to take it all apart to find out the cv was bad. I couldnt rotate it by hand.

 

[Mutineer]

ALPHABETS13:
When mine did that it was the joint on the rear of the front driveshaft., its not a u-joint, and I was told I had to replace the whole thing, so Im saving up for a beefed up one from Superlift.


It would make the reverse noise you mentioned, and when I turned into a parking place or something else at low speed, I would get this sort of chatter.... also when I would slow down at a red light and come to a stop it would chatter or grind....I thought it was the bearings, then the ball joints(which were worn out), and then the tie rods and R&P bushings and nothing helped until I pulled the front shaft and then it quit.

Also check the bushings on your differential, they are kind-of like motor mounts, and can clunk if worn out, but will only do it when you change directions in the tranny(fwd to rev and vise-versa) or when you let off the gas and hit it at cruising speed (thats what mine did when they wore out).

Mine is an AWD though, so a 4X4 will probably have the Constant Velocity Joint in the rear of the ft shaft, and that has Ujoints in it.

Hope this helps someone...

 

[aaa563]

i had the same problem. it was my swaybar end link bushings. they looked fine but when replaced the noise was gone.