Hi Everyone,

I have a 2010 Ford Ranger Sport. RWD with the 4.0L. Currently Sitting at 46,000 Miles.

Where I am located, it is very cold. Downwards of 5 Degrees F. I just started noticing a strange sound in my truck. When accelerating from a stop light I hear a single knock, and to my ear it sound as if it was coming from the rear. First thing I did was check the U-Joint, but there is zero play and it is very tight.

After driving quite a lot and unable to diagnose the problem, I part and got out of my truck, only to hear that same noise when I stepped out of the truck. (I am not fat 195b lol). So I sat back down and I heard it again. Did this a few times and consistently heard it. I got into the bed of my truck and started to jump around and got the same knock.

I shook the exhaust pipe to see if it was making the noise, but it wasn't, which makes sense considering while driving over bumps I could not hear anything.

I am totally lost as to what this could be.... Any thoughts.

I want to add that I CANNOT feel any difference driving. Feels great.

My ideas on problems are as follows;
-Spare tire
-bushing
-loose bold
-leaf spring (maybe a hanger)
-The cold creating noise like always

Thanks Guys. Appreciate any feedback

Matthew Spencer

 

Check the transmission mount for play.

 

Might want to check spring shackles and mounts but at the age and miles of the truck it would be low on the suspect list.

 

I'm betting it's just the cold making things pop and snap like that... I spent most of my life living in an area that gets friggin' cold in the winter like that and it almost always causes the suspension on whatever vehicle I'm driving at the time to 'pop' or 'knock' like that...

If, after it warms up, you still have that sound, then I'd start to wonder what's going on...