Suspension noise frustration

[DrCheeto]

Ok, I'm getting pretty frustrated at this point.

My 00 EB is awful to drive. The slightly bumps are extremely rough, and at slow speeds you can hear suspension noise, kind of a clunking noise.

I have replaced the Upper control arms, Shocks (2 Different times), Sway bar bushings, both wheel hub assemblies, and It's still not fixed. The Lower control arms look recent, and have no noticeable play.

Going over bumps in this thing is neck shattering. It's violent, noisy, and abrupt. My 98 Sport with worn out suspension is less jarring than this.

Any ideas where I should look next?

 

[yavapaires]

Ok, I'm getting pretty frustrated at this point.

My 00 EB is awful to drive. The slightly bumps are extremely rough, and at slow speeds you can hear suspension noise, kind of a clunking noise.

I have replaced the Upper control arms, Shocks (2 Different times), Sway bar bushings, both wheel hub assemblies, and It's still not fixed. The Lower control arms look recent, and have no noticeable play.

Going over bumps in this thing is neck shattering. It's violent, noisy, and abrupt. My 98 Sport with worn out suspension is less jarring than this.

Any ideas where I should look next?

How about the upper control arm adjusting bolts. I would think they were replaced with the control arms, but you never know. Mine are worn where they go through the brackets, allowing for some noise. I shimmed them back a bit to take out some slack, but still some noise. I also dropped the torsion bars one turn. Better ride so far. And drives better. I used to ddliver cars out on the Island, are the roads still as bad as in 1991?

 

[DrCheeto]

How about the upper control arm adjusting bolts. I would think they were replaced with the control arms, but you never know. Mine are worn where they go through the brackets, allowing for some noise. I shimmed them back a bit to take out some slack, but still some noise. I also dropped the torsion bars one turn. Better ride so far. And drives better. I used to ddliver cars out on the Island, are the roads still as bad as in 1991?

The new upper control arms came with new bolts, so i used them. The only thing left is the lowers, but they are Moog , and seem recent, with no noticable play.

And yea, the roads are still pretty bad lol.

 

[swshawaii]

You've narrowed down most of the possible causes for your rough ride.
The clunking noise makes it obvious something is loose, worn, or broken.
Tire pressue? If you have torsion bars, has it been lifted via torsion twist?
Also, the body mount bushings are notorious for disintegrating on these vehicles.

 

[haphop]

Loose sway bar links will make a clunking noise. Tighten them if new or get some new, if the rubbers are squashed.

 

[DrCheeto]

You've narrowed down most of the possible causes for your rough ride.
The clunking noise makes it obvious something is loose, worn, or broken.
Tire pressue? If you have torsion bars, has it been lifted via torsion twist?
Also, the body mount bushings are notorious for disintegrating on these vehicles.

No Torsion twist. The body mounts look great from what I can see. Not a hint of rust on this truck either.

Tire pressure is at 32 all around.

The noise only appeared after I removed the shocks on it that were frozen in place. Once I replaced them with new shocks, apparently the travel I introduced made for some worn parts making noise that I can't identify.

 

[SoNic67]

What shocks did you use? Did you torque them right (hold the shaft from rotating)? I have used Monroe Sensatrac (almost too soft for my taste, keep them on front) and KYB Gas-A-Just (on rear).
Also, if the hard bumps are over short obstacles, it might be because of the tires - suspension takes care only on slow, big amplitude, bumbs.
PS: I am convinced that the OE tires (Wrangler RT/S) are not ment for the comfortable ride. I can't wait to be worn out and get some non-rough terrain ones.

 

[V850MM]

I have that same problem on the 1997 Mountaineer making the clunking noise on uneven road surface and noise over speed bumps and most of it comes from the front.

 

[swshawaii]

Loose sway bar links will make a clunking noise. Tighten them if new or get some new, if the rubbers are squashed.

Very good point. You mentioned sway bar (frame?) bushings, but not end links.
Would be noisy, although don't believe they would contribute to a rough ride.

 

[my98nnj]

Check the caliper guide pins. If they are lose the caliper will rattle. You can identify this if the noise goes away on bumps while the brake is applied.

Don't overlook tires either. When I switched from the Wranglers to the Michelin ltx it was a night a day difference in ride comfort and road noise.