09fx4guy
Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2010
- Messages
- 409
- Reaction score
- 176
- Points
- 43
- Location
- USA
- Vehicle Year
- 2009
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Type
- 4.0 V6
- Engine Size
- 4.0
- Transmission
- Automatic
- 2WD / 4WD
- 4WD
- Total Lift
- Pre Key w/ #1 Bars
- Tire Size
- 265/70R16
Good Afternoon Everybody,
First thing first, my truck is a 2009 FX4 with an automatic transmission. The front end is completely stock except for the pre key mod that I did a couple years ago, at which time I also upgraded to #1 torsion bars. The truck has just under 44000 miles and has no known problems. I had checked the ball joints and steering back in the summer with my father and did not feel any issues.
Now for the fun part. A month or so ago, I began to notice a gentle clunk / pop from the front end when I would back out of my driveway (on a VERY gentle slope). Usually I turn the wheel to the right when I back out, and when I would stop and put it in drive to move forward, I would hear the clunk. I do not really feel it in the steering wheel, more in the floor so to say. It does not do it every time, but it seems as though it has been doing it more lately. It seems to be doing it when the wheels are turned and the truck is going up or down a bump or raised driveway. I also noticed today that I can replicate the noise when I am going straight. If I am going forwards slowly, and brake firmly, I can hear the click as well.
My gut is telling me that it does not seem like it is the tie rods, but I think it may be the sway bar end links. My logic is that it seems to make the noise based on suspension articulation, not steering direction.
I had taken a quick look underneath recently and did not notice anything out of the ordinary, but I will take a look with my father hopefully on saturday.
I would appreciate any thoughts on the matter. I am not looking forward to doing major suspension or steering work now since I do not have a garage and it has been unseasonably cold and snowy for NJ, and the forecast does not look to be getting better anytime soon.
First thing first, my truck is a 2009 FX4 with an automatic transmission. The front end is completely stock except for the pre key mod that I did a couple years ago, at which time I also upgraded to #1 torsion bars. The truck has just under 44000 miles and has no known problems. I had checked the ball joints and steering back in the summer with my father and did not feel any issues.
Now for the fun part. A month or so ago, I began to notice a gentle clunk / pop from the front end when I would back out of my driveway (on a VERY gentle slope). Usually I turn the wheel to the right when I back out, and when I would stop and put it in drive to move forward, I would hear the clunk. I do not really feel it in the steering wheel, more in the floor so to say. It does not do it every time, but it seems as though it has been doing it more lately. It seems to be doing it when the wheels are turned and the truck is going up or down a bump or raised driveway. I also noticed today that I can replicate the noise when I am going straight. If I am going forwards slowly, and brake firmly, I can hear the click as well.
My gut is telling me that it does not seem like it is the tie rods, but I think it may be the sway bar end links. My logic is that it seems to make the noise based on suspension articulation, not steering direction.
I had taken a quick look underneath recently and did not notice anything out of the ordinary, but I will take a look with my father hopefully on saturday.
I would appreciate any thoughts on the matter. I am not looking forward to doing major suspension or steering work now since I do not have a garage and it has been unseasonably cold and snowy for NJ, and the forecast does not look to be getting better anytime soon.