I have a 2001 Ford Ranger 4x4 4.0L w/ 5 speed auto. Whether driving forward or in reverse, and mostly with wheels turned right or left, but sometimes straight, an audible clicking sound periodically comes from the front end. What is causing this unnerving sound? The dealership says it is normal. They also say that Ford calls it "characteristic", but am having a hard time believing it. Any ideas?

 

Since it is a 4x4, I'm thinking the front CV joints. But it seems a bit premature for a 2001. How many miles do you have?? My own personal experience has been that a CV joint will almost never fail, unless the boot has been compromised first. My suggestion, before doing anything else, is to get under there and take a REAL GOOD LOOK at the CV joint boots. If they are compromised at all, REPLACE THEM, and don't use the aftermarket split boots ... they are junk. If the boots aren't compromised, then you might consider repacking the CV joints. I don't know what yours look like. They might not be easy to lubricate without removing the boots. I'm curious to hear what other 2001 (and older) 4x4 owners have to say. GOOD LUCK!

 

It has 36,650ish miles, and thanks for the suggestion. I'll check it out. BTW - I just talked to someone (not representing Ford corporate or a dealership) who said he had an Explorer 4x4 that did the same thing. He suggested the sound was inherent to some Ford 4x4s. We both made a general visual check of the components and concluded all looks well. However, looks can be deceiving. Regardless, the quest for knowledge and possible repair continues. Thanks again.

 

My 93 ranger 4x4 does the same thing. Usually I only notice it on clover leaf on/off ramps.

I think it is the auto locking hubs.

 

I just had the same problem with my truck, I took it back to the dealer thinking it was the hubs. After an hour and driving the thing around the parking lot, the technician determined it was loose lug nuts. He tightened them and amazingly the sound stopped. So I would suggest that you check the lug nuts before resorting to anything more serious, if that doesn't fix the problem then go for more complicated techniques. I do some four wheeling on the weekends and the noise started after one weekend in the desert. I have the alloy 16" wheels also, a 2001 4x4 XLT ranger, with the off road package. 4.0L.

 

Guess what? Just like I normally do every 5,000 miles, I had the tires rotated last Thursday. However, doing so seemed to "cure" the mysterious clicking noise. To think that the noise could have been caused by a loosely mounted wheel makes me not only a little wary of the "top notch" service I thought I had been receiving at my local tire shop, but also of how it seems some people in general have lowered their own quality of work ethic. And what's worse is that my local Ford dealership claimed that corporate called the sound "characteristic" of the Ranger. Seems like a full house of cop-outs to me. In any case, everything seems to be back to normal now. Thanks for everyone's advice.

Next question: Flow Master apparently doesn't make a system for my 2001, but does anyone know of a suitable substitute? I'm interested in starting with new headers and replacing everything else, but might be happy with just a decent cat-back system. Thanks in advance.

 

Thanks for the post and replies.

2000 Ranger with 16 inch alloy wheels/sport package 4x4.

Same noise with clicking to the point I thought it was going to be a serious repair.

I had been to the garage a few times to get problem checked during service calls.

Lug nuts were not extremely loose but a 1/4-1/2 turn with wrench stopped the clicking.

Thanks.

 

I guess that is why my sound went away also, I was having that problem a little while ago, I guess the dealer put the lugs on and forgot to torque them when it was on the ground. When I rotated my tires, the sound was gone!

 

Chalk this one up to, "If you want it done right, then do it yourself". Hopefully, no one else in the future has to repeat the experience.


Thanks.

 

I will agree with you on that one!

 

If you think we had it rough, check out this string - https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=267588
I seems that some folks don't have simple problems & solutions like the lug nut issue.

Cheers!

 

FYI, even if you get your tires rotated at a shop, you're supposed to re-torque the lug nuts after driving a little (I was told after the first 100 miles). Sometimes dirt, etc. can stop the wheel from seating properly on the hub at the shop.

This is one of those things that if my Dad didn't work for a tire manufacturer, I probably never would have known about.

Matt

 

had a similar problem several years back on an f-150 with aftermarket wheels and centercaps. learned it was the lugs when after several weeks of annoying banging from the center cap, the clicking noise started. my dad (not a car person at all) thought it was the wheel bearings or some other world ending disaster. two minutes with a four-way fixed both problems.

occam's razor(K.I.S.S.): 'all things being equal, the simpliest explanation is almost always correct.' the second most important rule for working on cars, right after murphey's law

 

iamcanuck and theaudioman945, you are both right on the mark. Owners should always follow up on work done by someone else, especially when it is something minor like a simple tire rotation. And, here's another adage for you theaudioman945: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".