Hi people,
I'm having a bit of an issue locating a certain "knocking" noise that seems to be coming from the passenger side front end of my
98 Ranger 2wd 5 speed manual. 4 cylinder....
It's got approx. 65,000 miles on it.

It starts after about 10 minutes of driving time.
Going over bumps, turning left or right, going straight.. fast or slow.. As the truck runs longer the noise becomes more frequent though not consistent.
my investigation....press on the passenger side front end and i hear the "knock" once.
Shocks seem to be working fine.
taken it to a mechanic to look at the tie rod ends.
these are fine although left side boot has a tear but it's still maintaining oil.

shook the exhaust system as hard as i could. This seems to be solid and unmoving.

steering seems to have play but i think i'm overexaggerating it because i'm desperate to find the noise.

I would also like to add that it is simply a "knock" , like something is banging somewhere.
maybe something is loose and swaying freely but if that is the case why more frequently when the truck is warmer?

I'm at my wits end trying to locate it.
please help.
-staci

 

Welcome to FTE!!!

Have you tried getting under the truck and having someone press down on it so you can pinpoint the noise.

 

hi.
thanks for the welcome..
no i have not tried that yet. but did poke around under there and saw nothing hanging and everything seemed tight.
i forgot to put on there that it's xlt but not ext cab and it has a ben smith signature on the back..who's ben smith?

today i'm going to go under the hood and look around and see what i can find.
-staci

 

I have no idea who he is, must be a local thing. Once you pin down the general area you might be able to feel the noise, just make sure you don't get pinched were you hold on to.

 

thanks.
I guess it's not a noise indicative to Rangers.
I was hoping for an easy solution.
as long as it doesn't come apart on me driving down the freeway

 

I would still find out what the noise is, you never know.

 

thanks so much for listening!
I really appreciate it.
I've looked at the "newer trucks 89-96" posts and some other people have posted about something similar, but in the f series trucks. I know the little Ranger is alot different but in the end ford is ford. (?)

I have a feeling it will be found while fixing something else.
I'll let you know.
-staci

 

I had a knock like that once in my wife car. Turned out to be an upper A frame bushing. When the car was jacked up, it had tension on it so you would never see it. I found it by jacking up the car on the wheel spindle with a floor jack, taking off the tire, and watching what moved when I pressed on the car. You could see it kick up on the one side.