Hello,
I have a 1991 Ford F-150 Custom V6 5-speed that has particular front end noise I am trying to diagnose. After the car warms up by driving around for twenty minutes and then during normal operation and driving, the passenger side front end wheelwell starts to make a rubbing and thumping noise when initially accelerating, stopping and whenever torque is put on the transmission. If I coast in neutral, the noise is not present. The noise isn't connected to turning, but in general whenever torque is put on the car (starting or stopping) this rubbing/thumping sound can be heard quite loudly in the cab.
I recently had new tires placed on the vehicle and the shop recommended the tie-rods to be replaced and the wheel bearing to be re-packed. Could either be related to this noise? And, it seems the noise only appears after driving for some time or after a short trip on the freeway, almost as if something in the suspension or drive train or transmission has to warm up and then loosen up?
Any suggestions of where to start looking under the chassis would be helpful.

Thanks,
Kucharski

 

...Welcome to Ford Truck Enthusiasts!

See you on the boards. ….

 

I have a loud noise in my '01 Expy when stopping or accelerating quickly. It's been there for awhile, but much worse now. My OD light blinks sometimes and it shifts really bad then. No codes show up at Auto Zone or Advanced Auto. Had trany flushed, no difference. Taking it to a trany shop next week.

 

I'd check the universals. Sounds like that will start to pop up when the universals start freezing up. Also if you just had work done to it, I would take it back to them and have them double check their work. I just had 5 lugnuts and a centercap go on me in the middle of a turn. I had just had work done at a major repair shop. They did make everything right but there was some error there.

 

it could only be somthing with u joints if its a 4wd, and if the hub(s) were locked in. first i would check bushings, like the radius arm bushings, and the frame area around the mount, as that has been known to crack before.

 

Take a look at the radius arm bushings. They make a fair amount of noise when they go.