Hey guys! First post here, I purchased my first (real) diesel, 7.3 Excursion last year around October. It's a 2002 with ~195k on it, purchased from a neighbor/friend. I mainly use the truck to tow my drift car (1992 Nissan 240sx with a 5.7 alu LS1/T56). I'll be towing the car about 800 miles round trip in the next few weeks and am looking for some advice on a strange suspension clunk I'm getting.

When going into reverse or drive from neutral/park or going over certain bumps I hear a semi-loud 'click' coming from what sounds like the back of the truck, but it is hard to tell. I'm thinking it might be sway bar end link bushings. However, the truck is lifted probably 4-6" and I'm wondering if the excursion lifts usually modify the sway bar end links? Or if someone could tell me the length of the stock ones I can just measure these?

In the future I'd like to remove the lift to improve towing stability, but I'm really unsure what is changed/unchanged with the lift so I'm pretty hesitant.

Regardless, thanks in advance for any help! I tried searching but didn't find much. I'm pretty bad at searching / reading so I apologize in advance if this has been covered before.

 

I had an annoying clunk when leaving from a stop. Driveline slip joint needed greasing.

Slip joint regreasing

 

I'm gonna second ted. Sounds like the slip joint. Pull the boot and regrease.

The end links are a very common noise point for sure. Inspection should reveal if they are hitting the springs or if the rubber is worn.

But if its making the noise in gear changes, then it's most likely the slip joint. You can also test this by turning OD off and driving at 35-40 mph which will keep the tc locked. You can then lift and reapply the accelerator to see if it clicks. do this with open windows.

 

Roger, I appreciate this info. After the weekend I am able to find it 100% does it when i go from park/neutral/drive to reverse. Going to check the slip joint.

The rubber on the end links are a bit worn but don't look awful

 

That link helps a ton, thank you so much!

 

Reminds me that I need to do this on mine as well.

 

I just use a greasing needle and seal the hole.