Torsion Bar Adjuster Insulator??

[CDW6212R]

Good, it sounds like you have a plan. The truck would have to have room enough below to swing the front lower control arm downward, to almost straight down. That would be the safest method to release the torsion bar pressure, and requires no puller, or special tool. Good luck,

 

[95beater]

Lazzman:

I had the same exact noise you describe, an intermittent driver’s side banging, felt under the seat, usually when driving over minor bumps.

I crawled under tonight to inspect the front end and take off the torsion bar cover. What I found was a loose shock driver’s side shock. The tabs on one side of the mounting bar, on the shock its self, actually snapped off. The stress on the remaining bolt was great, and it had loosened it up so there was about ¼ play.

The shocks are about 6-months old and are the right size. I must have over-tightened the shock and mashed that end of the bar or it was defective.

Anyway, the moral of the story is to look at everything. I swore the noise was coming from the torsion bar, I could even feel it at my feet when I drove. Make sure everything is tight.

 

[Lazzman]

Thanks for the info, I installed my shocks myself and the thing is the problem was there both before and after I installed the new shocks. I will take a gander at it anyway. The thing is with mine I can hear it and also feel it in the steering wheel. It is only when goind under 15mph or so, when I hit a decent bump the noise is not present, only when I hit small bumps or frost heaves do I hear this- clackity clack of metal.

I have grabbed the torsion bars and pulled on them to see if they were loose but they seemed tight. I also sprayed WD-40 on the rear mounts and the noise disappeared for a few days. I was all set to get new Torsion Bar Insulators installed for about $200 but my mechanic and three different Ford Parts dealers I went to said they had never replaced them in all their years with Ford. So I abandoned the project and the noise is still there for now.

I understand that this does not get done often but you must remember my front end went through hell.

I ran it with bad upper/ lower ball joints and bad shocks for tens of thousands of miles, the tires were not properly rotated and under pressure a lot of the time. I think the fact that the shocks were toast and the ball joints were junk for about 40,000mi may have damaged other components.

Its funny but the Bushings on my Front Sway bar were worn away badly at about 75000 and I don't hear this reported much either.

I am hoping it is the Torsion Bar insulators because I have no other clues, perhpas the CV joints but they are not leaking fluid. We can eliminate the Shocks, Tie Rods, Sway Bar Bushings, ball joints and Sway bar links all of which are new and tested by me. It could be the steering wrack??

I will get back into it when I have time and money maybe in the spring.