That noise!!! But its not a u-joint!!

[Gigantor]

I need help here, I know I have not been around for a long while but I have this horrible clunking noise that sounds just like a bad u-joint however its not. I checked the rear drive shaft, and even the front. This noise only becomes apparent when I am roling for a few seconds, at a slow <15 mph. Even then I dont always hear the noise. Im getting very upset. I HATE unwanted noise in my explorer!!! I know im not the only one with this noise, and im not about to pay someone to look at my truck, when we have more than enough expirence here.
Thanks in advance,

 

[Gofast]

Clunk!

Nick, this may relate to your noise. It's hard to trouble shoot via the internet, but here's a shot.

My 94 4 door XLT has a similar noise. It was very sporadic but started happing more often. It now occurs regularly and we ( 4 wheel parts ) were able to figure it out. In my case I was having trouble keeping anykind of alignment. I also put new Radius Arm bushings in thinking that was the reason for both the noise and the alignment problems. Now keep in mind I have 173K miles on my truck. 10K miles ago I lifted it and started hitting the trails
( Moab,Clayton,Muenster and other local area's )

Symptoms;
When driving slowly I would get a random "Clunk" sound. I could tell it was from the front. Backing out of driveway or parking spots would also create this noise. Sometimes when slowing down I would get the "Clunk".

Alingment, Crap, It always pulls to the right. I've had 7 alignments in 10K miles. Nothing really held for more than a few days before it would drift again.
( May not be related )


Problem;

Noticed that the front coil would pop. Also, had the front diff hitting one of my superlift brackets.

4 Wheel parts found that the Bushing for the passenger side front I-beam was shot. This bushing was allowing the front I-beam to twist. This would cause a loud "Clunk" and cause the coil to "Pop" or shake. With the miles I had on this truck the bushing was probable bad anyway. When I lifted the truck and hit MOAB I really put the death grip on this bushing. To make it worse, 1 of the alignment shops moved the I-beam pivot point to the next hole up in the bracket. This would give it more camber, but it also put the pivot point in the hole for the 4" lift. My coils are for the 5.5" lift. This allowed the diff to hit the bracket.

Solution;

New Bushing was ordered, pivot point was moved back to the correct hole. 4 wheel parts is doing this all at no-charge.
They have been very helpful with this.

Recomendation;

Check the bushings, even if you are not lifted these things wear out. The whole suspension pivots on various points and this can cause the "Clunk" sounds. If you have milage or years it's probable worth replacing this stuff.

Good Luck with Trouble shooting this.

[Edited by Gofast on 08-03-2000 at 07:20 AM]

 

[jimmyz1997]

I have the same noise on my 95. mine does it when I'm backing up.
let me know what you find out.

 

[raven2]

If you hear a click, click, as you begin to move, or a clunk, clunk, in some cases, and it is not the u-joints, and its from the rear,
you may have play in your rear end, like you I have this, either live with it and wait for the rear to die, or have it rebuilt. Especialy if you have a manual tran, these a prone to getting slop in the rear end.

 

[Covrace]

I to had several alignments until changing the trailing arm bushing. The pass. side is just way to close to the cat. converter and gets cooked. However, guys, if you still pull to the right, check this: check the amount of space between the rear of the right hand tire and the fender. Then check the left. For some strange reason, my Right side is 1/4 of an inch or so closer than the left side!!!!

 

[Northwest 93XLT]

I had the problem of clunking when i came a stop.I did all the bushing stuff and front end. Guess what it was? The front bolt that holds the drivers seat was not tight enough. I torque it down and the clunk dissappereed.when it clunked it was right under my feet. Try it out guys it might work.

 

[Gigantor]

Rob, and you others...
Thanks for the insite, I am not lifted but when I first got the Explorer I was beating her pretty bad so I would not be suprised if the bushings are shot at 76,x.. miles. I did not even think about checking the bushings. However I do have that horriblle pull the the right. Hopefully new bushings will solve 2 problems!!

I know its NOT the rear axle cause it is comming from the FRONT.

 

[NCOddBob]

CLunk

I have the same problem.. (92 XLT, 120,000 miles)

When I go from reverse to forward, it clanks when I put it into gear. If I am already in forward and I put it in neutral, then back into forward, it doesn't clank. It doesn't clank going into reverse.

If I put it in 4WD, go forward and backward it doesn't do it, If I take it out of 4WD forward or back ward, it doesn't do it. But as soon as I back up in 2WD and then go forward, it clanks again..

It used to hum really loud at 55-65 MPH and I thought it was a tire problem, but the humming went away after about a week and immediately, the clanking started.

It only does it after reverse, and then forward and only in 2WD. I thought it was U-joints, but the noise is coming from up front underneath some place.

NCOddBob