- Joined
- Oct 22, 2020
- Messages
- 1,909
- Reaction score
- 2,656
- Points
- 113
- Location
- On The Road
- Vehicle Year
- 2004
- Make / Model
- Ranger Edge
- Engine Type
- 3.0 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
- 2WD / 4WD
- 2WD
- Total Lift
- 2x4 on 4x4 Factory Chassis
- Tire Size
- 235/75/15
I've been dealing with a clunking noise. I have the torsion bar front suspension. I referenced this entire thread and focused on this comment from that post: Front Sway Bar Stabilizer or possible ball joint issue . | Page 3 | The Ranger Station. I'm not dealing with steering issues, just the 'clunk'.
I first noticed this clunk around 2008 when the weight on the suspension was lessened (e.g. after cresting a hill or encountering a drop off).
All front sway bar bushings have been replaced according the instructions posted in that thread. It has quieted down a lot but there's still a noticeable clunk coming from the same place, specially at slow speeds on bumpy roads (15-20mph). I grabbed the torsion bar and shook the hell out of it but no clunk. I tried 'plucking' the parking brake cable just in case. Again, nothing. I can't reproduce the noise unless the truck is in motion and getting jossled over a bumpy road.
Since the clunk is the same as it was when she was 4yrs old and only lessened after the new bushings, I need to look further. I'm suspecting ball joints but find that reason almost impossible. A 4yr old vehicle usually doesn't encounter ball joint problems and the noise sounds the same as it did then?
She's close to turning 100k miles. I would suspect them to be worn by now but again, it sounds the same as I remember in 2008. I also had 2 shops look at it and neither one can find the source of the noise. I had one shop realign the front suspension last year after changing the shocks. No mention of ball joints then either. I would have expected they were checked as part of the alignment effort?
Hoping someone out here might have some ideas of what to check next before I jump into ball joints. It seems like the next logical step but wanted to ask before diving in with both feet. TIA.
I first noticed this clunk around 2008 when the weight on the suspension was lessened (e.g. after cresting a hill or encountering a drop off).
All front sway bar bushings have been replaced according the instructions posted in that thread. It has quieted down a lot but there's still a noticeable clunk coming from the same place, specially at slow speeds on bumpy roads (15-20mph). I grabbed the torsion bar and shook the hell out of it but no clunk. I tried 'plucking' the parking brake cable just in case. Again, nothing. I can't reproduce the noise unless the truck is in motion and getting jossled over a bumpy road.
Since the clunk is the same as it was when she was 4yrs old and only lessened after the new bushings, I need to look further. I'm suspecting ball joints but find that reason almost impossible. A 4yr old vehicle usually doesn't encounter ball joint problems and the noise sounds the same as it did then?
She's close to turning 100k miles. I would suspect them to be worn by now but again, it sounds the same as I remember in 2008. I also had 2 shops look at it and neither one can find the source of the noise. I had one shop realign the front suspension last year after changing the shocks. No mention of ball joints then either. I would have expected they were checked as part of the alignment effort?
Hoping someone out here might have some ideas of what to check next before I jump into ball joints. It seems like the next logical step but wanted to ask before diving in with both feet. TIA.