• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Creaking noise and clunk in front suspension


lvwill

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2013
Messages
430
City
Las Vegas Nv.
Vehicle Year
2020
Engine
2.3 EcoBoost
Transmission
Automatic
Tire Size
265/65/17
92 ranger with 5.5" superlift suspension and steering. It has this annoying creaking and sometimes a clunk noise. The clunk feels like it's coming from around my left foot when driving. I have went over every nut and bolt and everything is good. The truck also has all new ball joints and suspension bushings. It was in for an alignment a couple months ago and they checked everything as well. Any ideas what could be causing this?
 
Mine does it from time to time usually when braking or changing directions especially in 4 wheel drive. Being right under your foot the only thing there is the radius arm bushing. Is the radius arm bushings included in what you say you changed?
 
Yes radius arm bushings are new. I'm actually starting to think it may be body bushings.
 
Could also be a beam pivot bushing.

Check for frame cracks around the steering box as well.



GB :)
 
A friend's truck recently was making some pretty annoying creaking/popping noises (it was most noticeable when torque was put on the steering, such as if rocking the steering back & forth while sitting still).
We found the upper bolts on the pivot bracket for the driverside axle beam (the bracket on the p-side frame rail) with insufficient torque. Tightened them up and noise gone.

That said, both of my trucks as well as his also make a very occasional snap noise from somewhere around the steering gear it seems (again while torquing hard on the steering wheel). Gear bolts are tight, no frame cracks or other issues to be found. This particular noise has never changed (been there since the beginning), so that one we've just learned to ignore.

Similar to what's said above, the beam pivot bolts are another potential source, which I've had happen in the past too.
Pivot bolts should get 120-150 ft-lbs,
Bracket-to-frame bolts, 77-110ft-lbs.
(I usually shoot for the higher end of those ranges on rigs with modified suspensions)
 
Thanks for all the good info. If I can find a couple hours this weekend I'm going to go back through everything with the torque wrench again. I'll let you know what I find.
 
Could also be a beam pivot bushing.

Check for frame cracks around the steering box as well.



GB :)

This is what I was thinking. I used to work with a guy with an F150 that did basically that. It creaked a lot when turning, and while going left, every time, you got to a certain spot and it would go "thunk". We found a big crack in the steering gear bracket.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

TRS Events

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Ranger Adventure Video

TRS Merchandise

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Sponsors


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Sponsored Ad

Back
Top