The suspension in my f350 is starting to get noisy. Before I take it in for service at the local ford dealer, I thought I would stop here to get some advice.

My truck has about 98k on it, I am the second owner of the truck, I think the suspension is still the old factory original set from 04'. Recently i've noticed some increased noise on the front end, I am thinking the shocks or a leaf spring or something. The best I can do for a description of the sound is a rusty *** spring flexing. Along with this noise I can almost swear I feel an ever so slight tap under my feet when I go up a bumpy road or a speed bump. Is it just the springs on the way out or could it be something more, what kind of cost may I be looking at....

Also, on the rear end suspension, at some point driving on a rough road at my farm I swore I heard a metallic bang or pop or something and just assumed it was a stick bouncing up or stone. Shortly after, whenever I get the back end on uneven ground, that is one tire on high ground and the other on low at the same time my front axle is level or counter the back where I create a sort of minor "twist" in the frame, an awkward postion period but still one that most of us might encounter in a rural setting, I get a distinct metallic "tap" or contact as whichever rear tire is on the high ground.

I've been meaning to walk along side and have a buddy drive while I try to find the cause but it may be above the axle in the frame or bed.

What I am thinking is something has rusted through or broke or both in the rear suspension. A visual look see in the fender well, everything seems fine. Underneath I haven't investigated thoroughly yet. It usually occurs in a situation where I am pulling up and out to the left or right of a low road onto a higher road. Alternatively when I back up and one rear tire climbs before the other while the front axle is still level, again its just a metal tap like something is coming together briefly then coming back apart.

I'm not rock crawling with my F350, just the ever so slightest twists cause this noise.

Thanks for reading all of this, any advice would be appreciated.

 

I have the same problem on the front end. I have an 04 F350 CC Long Bed SRW and on the front end I get the same type of hollow thud and a slight feeling of a tap under my feet when I go over bumps and holes in the road. I have a little over 149K on my truck. I had the ball joints replaced last summer and I asked the guy who replaced them to take a look at the front end. The shop was a suspension shop that also did lifts. He told me after he looked at everything was that the front end had a leveling kit and that the kit didn't come with poly bushings and that was the noise I was hearing and feeling. He also mentioned that everything else looked fine - steering, suspension, brakes, etc. I was under my truck for an oil change last week and it didn't look like I had a leveling kit, but I'm no expert. I think I will get another opinion. FYI, these posts might be moved since this kinda doesn't involve the 6.0l engine. I hope to get some insight though.

 

Sounds like either sway bar links or bushings.

Easy to check, go under and move the sway bar up and down at the links, and at the bushings. If it moves and clucks that's what it is. If it's stiff and doesn't move it's not it.

I've also seen plenty of shocks where the lower bushings open up and they clunk too.

You will get the same noise and clunk in the rear if it has a sway bar as well...

 

Thanks alot guys, yea its a 6.0l engine to my first responder. Sway bar... I have no idea what it is but I'll look it up. Thanks again!

 

It mounts to the frame on each side, and then the front axle in the middle.

 

dlibson, thanks. didn't think of that. I've pulled a little on the shocks a short while back and I didn't here anything. I will get under the truck tomorrow at some point and check the sway bar. Thanks for the help.