Sound from undercarriage

[xdviper]

One of my few problems on my explorer is that whenever there is a heavy load, say a 3rd passenger in the backseat, I will hear this loud *thud thud thud* or like two metals clapping together kind of sound from undercarriage of the vehicle. It will get louder if more passengers are in the backseat and or if I go faster.
It also happens on cold starts while driving between one way streets, I can hear it clicking or thudding. I really don't know how to explain it but it just sound like it's coming from the end/back of the vehicle.

 

[MustangP51]

It could be the sound of the suspension hitting the bump stops, is there alot of spring sag in the rear?

 

[xdviper]

By "sag" do you mean something like it has lowered itself down?
I've noticed it become lowered done something very little, but noticeable about 3 months ago....

And yes, both the rear shocks, look like they are fully extended... But I can't be too sure unless I crawl down there.

Will I benefit if I get those two replaced?? They look like they are the stock ones :.... 150k Miles on themm ouch!

 

[MustangP51]

Well if the shocks have 150k on them it wouldn't hurt to replace them, but if it is actually the suspension hitting the bump stops then shocks wouldn't fix the problem, only replacing the springs, or having the springs re arched will fix that. (If that is actually your problem) And yes that is what I meant by spring sag.

 

[xdviper]

Well if the shocks have 150k on them it wouldn't hurt to replace them, but if it is actually the suspension hitting the bump stops then shocks wouldn't fix the problem, only replacing the springs, or having the springs re arched will fix that. (If that is actually your problem) And yes that is what I meant by spring sag.

Thank you, I'll deff get them checked out sometime this month....

 

[xdviper]

Sorry to bring up a 3 month old thread back up, but 3 months and still I haven't gotten them checked out, and they sound even worse now.

Let me explain how it goes, so hopefully we can diagnose it here, and I can get prices for it...

Mourning (cold start, 1 passenger), it is quiet, nothing can be heard or felt
But say after I have drove around, and pick up 2 passengers, I can hear the **** THUD THUD, and it drives me nuts. Later on, if I drive the sound goes away and only audible when I hit a bump which causes the X to bounce.

If you guys say its the suspension hitting the bump stops, how much for new springs? Do I have to get all 4 of them done?

And also, I am thinking about going to PA this week, its only about a 150MI trip, do you think the car will be able to make it there without causing any major problems? I'll probably have 4 passengers in total in the X.

 

[X~FACTOR]

Take a picture of the underside of your truck from the rear with people inside and post it here.

Or better yet, drive to me , you're only 20 minutes away. PM me.