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weird suspension noises

dannyb420

Well-Known Member
Joined
January 21, 2002
Messages
530
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City, State
Cleveland, Ohio
Year, Model & Trim Level
'04 XLT
I have had some weird noises cominbg from my suspension the past month. I hear a clicking noise when I am slowing down/ breaking/ or moving slowly like through a parking lot. Its not when I turn so I do not think it is a Joint. Also, sometimes when I go up my driveway or over a bump or dip, it makes a squeeking noise when the shock moves back out. It has over 50k miles so I am sure it will need new shocks, but any ideas what the clicking noise is? I have always associated clicking with CV joints, but I was always under the impression it was when you turn the wheel?
 



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Could the clicking be a dry u joint on the driveshaft? Your squeaking when bouncing is likely the sway bar mounts that the bar goes through. You can spray a lubricant on the bushings and see if the sound goes away. If it does you likely need new bushings. Poly ones last longer, and are supposed to have a better feel.
 






dannyb...i have the same problem...came up almost a yr ago but the past 2 months it click every day....if u find something out about it let me know it gets annoying after a while
 






I get an occasional front-end squeak going over speed bumps in the parking garage. A little lithium grease applied to the stabilizer bar bushings takes the squeak right out (for a couple months anyway).
 






I have the same exact clicking sound. Mine is coming from the pass side rear tire. It only does it when I am slowing down or I am driving slowly. If I speed up, It goes away???

I was told to check the rear brakes. There is a clip that holds on the brake pads. If it becomes loose, it will alow the padss to move around in there. I don't know if this is true or not, but it's worth checking. Going to try it this weekend.

Vic
 






Bump.

I have the same noise. Anyone come up with a cause?

Thank you
Tom
 






vp6799 said:
I have the same exact clicking sound. Mine is coming from the pass side rear tire. It only does it when I am slowing down or I am driving slowly. If I speed up, It goes away???

I was told to check the rear brakes. There is a clip that holds on the brake pads. If it becomes loose, it will alow the padss to move around in there. I don't know if this is true or not, but it's worth checking. Going to try it this weekend.

Vic

I have been out of the state for training for work and away from my Ex. but have heard the same as above. When I get back to Cleveland for a few weeks I will take it to shop to check on the issue prior to leaving to Georgia. I will keep you updated.
 






dannyb420 said:
I have been out of the state for training for work and away from my Ex. but have heard the same as above. When I get back to Cleveland for a few weeks I will take it to shop to check on the issue prior to leaving to Georgia. I will keep you updated.
I got a chance to rip into the brakes to figure it out. It was actually really bad. The rear emergency brakes were all broken apart and in pieces. They were barely holding on. I had to replace them, so while doing that. I just replaced the completes rear brakes and rotors. I have no more clicking sounds coming from back there.

My problem was actually in the emergency brakes. You got to get in there and check it out. It could be either the pads moving around, or falling apart.



Vic
 






Wow, Maybe I should get mine looked at more quickly. I will definetely do it prior to my move to Georgia. May I ask what it cost you for the parts? I will probably try and do it myself, Thanks
 






dannyb420 said:
Wow, Maybe I should get mine looked at more quickly. I will definetely do it prior to my move to Georgia. May I ask what it cost you for the parts? I will probably try and do it myself, Thanks
I got everything for cost price. It would have cost me $310 just for the parts for the rear. I ended up getting everything for the rear for $220.

It's an easy job to do yourself. If you haven't picked up one of those haynes repair manuals yet, you should. It willmake it easier to go by that book instead of guessing it.


Vic
 






Update on my noise.

I pulled the rear rotors and found that all four pads had separated from their respective shoes. The clicking noise was from the pads spinning over the shoes. There was a nice clean patch worn in the drum part of the rotor from the pads moving around.

The problem is now I can not find a replacement set that works. So far I have seen four aftermarket sets and none of them were the correct ones, even though the parts computer said they would fit. All of them had an extra piece of metal that would not let the actuators engage correctly and the tensioner adjustment slots were not in the correct orientation. So I guess I have to bite the bullet and get a pair from Ford.

If anyone knows where I can get a set of shoes that fit, let me know.

Thank you,
Tom
 






OK...I had / have the same problem.

Isolated the problem that caused the "clicking" to be the plastic covers over the front shock absorbers. They become deformed with heat / age and break / rub. You cant exactly cut them out so the only way to remove them is by taking the springs off to get to them.

The mechanic had a stethoscope on it and it is defintaley the problem with mine.

Hope this helps

Craig
 






Clicking noise from my X seems to be coming from the front, mostly during the beginning stages of braking or slowing down. When I engage the brakes fully, it seems to go away. My calipers, rotors and pads are only a couple months old. Could it be from a suspension component or something? My hubby tried spraying the front with WD40 and it "hushed" about 80% but the clicking noise came back after about a day or so. HELP!!! The clicking noise is driving me nuts! :confused:
 






Could the clicking be a dry u joint on the driveshaft?...

What should I do when U-Joints are dry other than spraying it with WD40 every morning? I mean, will I need to get them (GULP!) replaced!? Any other areas that I should check? Thanks in advance! ;)
 






Bump! ;)
 






I must have missed my email update. U joints are cheap, and are easy to replace. You could replace all three for under $30. Other, than that, maybe the slip the slip yoke on the rear driveshaft.
 






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