What's that clunking noise?

[azmark]

I have an '01 Explorer Sport. When I come to a stop I have a heavy 'clunk' that is coming from the rear. I had it looked over at a shop and the mech thought it was the spare banging because it was loose, but he tightened it and the noise is still there. That should give you an idea of where it feels like it's coming from.

FYI, I am getting ready to install all new shocks, upper control arm assemblies with ball joints on both sides and lower ball joints as well. All that stuff is definitely bad anyway.

What the heck is going on here? There is no 'clink' like a worn u-joint. I kind of wonder if the fuel tank might not be secure, but I can't tell a difference in the sound or feel regardless of the amount of fuel in it. I'm just taking WAGs at this point.

Can anybody give me any ideas?

 

[jremington59]

I read a few posts here about the slip joint in the rear driveshaft causing a clunking noise if it needs greasing.

 

[Turdle]

Transmission mount?

 

[Vic_Ferrari2002]

If your ex has the control trac 4wd it might be the t-case. Thats what happened on mine.Had loud cluncks when stopping, after while it would happen when i would back out of somewhere. Then i started getting a thumping noise while decelerating.

 

[azmark]

I honestly don't know if I have control trac. I was used to my Wrangler with a lever on the floor and now I have a rotary selector on the dash. I didn't get the manual with the vehicle.

 

[jremington59]

Does it say control trac on the hatch?

 

[azmark]

I'll double-check but I think I would have noticed it. If not, then how embarrassing would that be? I'll cop to it if I brain farted it.

 

[azmark]

Not sport trac. I'll have the slip joint and the trans mount checked when my guy replaces the shocks, etc.

BTW, I bought parts from Rock Auto and got great prices and service. Just wanted to give them props.

 

[drdoom]

Vic how did you fix that case? Did you rebuild it?

 

[Vic_Ferrari2002]

Just replaced it with a j/y unit. I did keep the old one to open and rebuild when my schedule allows me. I got a really good used one from Harry's U-Pull It in Hazelton, Pa for $56.70 + $10.00 core.

 

[Vic_Ferrari2002]

Azmark, you don't have a sport trac. Thats the truck version of the explorer. The control trac is just a version of the 4wd. Does the 4wd rotary switch on the dash say Auto, 4 hi, 4 lo? If it does you do have control trac 4wd.

 

[drdoom]

Cool...thanks Vic. I plan to rebuild mine next week, soon as I open it up and get a parts list.

 

[Jake100146]

Hi all of anyone could have a look at my upper and lower ball joints in this picture?

http://m.imgur.com/a/Mc8Om

And tell me wether or not it is the reason for the clunking noise when I go over a speed pump at the front of my vehicle?

Thanks heaps.

Jake

 

[shucker1]

Highly possible.

Best way to tell is to jack up the front wheel from under the lower control arm to get the weight off of it.

Grasp the tire at the top and the bottom and pull it in and out while watching the ball joints for movement.

Any lateral movement means they need replacement.

 

[Jake100146]

Highly possible.

Best way to tell is to jack up the front wheel from under the lower control arm to get the weight off of it.

Grasp the tire at the top and the bottom and pull it in and out while watching the ball joints for movement.

Any lateral movement means they need replacement.

So lift it up from the control arm itself or just the axel to lift the weight off?

 

[shucker1]

Jack up under the control arm to get the downward load off of the ball joints.

 

[Turdle]

You'll need to use a pry bar to check ball joints. Even very worn , they are almost impossible to move by hand. You need to get something between the spindle and control arm and try to make them move apart

if they do, they are bad

 

[Jake100146]

I just jacked up the front of my vehicle and wobbled the tires and they all seem good until I did the right hand side wobble from left to right and it seems as though something is loose when I wobble it from left to right? I checked it over and nothing was loose??

Is it the ball bearings or ball joints upper and /lower?

Thanks heaps,

Jake