I have an annoying issue that I hope you all can help me with. I have posted this in the Offroad and 4x4 catagory as well, but do not think that the issue is specific to a 4x4.

Anyway, here goes...

I have a horrible creaking sound coming from directly below my front seat and can be felt from the floorboards. I cannot reproduce the sound when the truck is stationary and compressing the suspension (although, I do not get much compression on the 1-ton front) but is pretty constant when driving the truck.

I took my truck to my tire shop to have them inspect the suspension. They adivised that the inner and outer tie rods are good as well as the ball joints and u-joints. They can hear the awful creaking noise and feel its vibrations. They disocvered that the source of the creaking was not the suspension or steering system, but that the frame is vibrating when the steeing wheel is being turned from lock to lock. They furhter determined that it seems to be the transmission crossmember to frame attachment that is the source of the creaking sound.

I got under the truck with the technician and I too can feel the frame rails (both sides) vibrate then the steering wheel is being turned while the truck is stationary. I hear the tranny crossmember to frame intersection creak loudly. The technician was not readily wanting to retorque or loosen and then retorque the transmission xmember-to-frame nuts. I told him I would research and he said that if that is what is suggested to bring it back and he would see what he can do.

So I have two questions. 1. What is the source of the frame vibration (load)? 2. What can I do stop or minimalize the vibration and the loud annoying creaking?

I am the 'new' second owner of this 1995 F350 CrewCab 4x4 with 127,000 miles. It does have a new 4" Lift with 35" tires on 16x10 wheels. The noise existed with the stock suspension, wheels and tires but to a much lesser degree. The transmission was replaced 2 years ago but only 5k miles ago. I do not know if the tranny xmember would have been R&R's during the tranny replacement.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Rob

 

I'm interested in fixing this too. I've got a completely different truck that does the same thing.

Adam H. 1994 F150XL Red, Reg.Cab, Long Box, 4.9, E4OD, Overload springs, Posi.

 

the posting police are going to tell you multiple postings is a no no.

i am curious also what the source is.

'technician' made me laugh. in ohio we just call them mechanics.

 

You can re-tighten the crossmember to tranny and frame to crossmember bolts. Try putting them back together with a little grease on them.

If you're still getting the noise, take the slip yoke out and grease it. That's what's making the same noise on my 4x4.

 

..HAHA...I am still trying to figure out which one can get the job done.

Anyway, the double posting may be a no-no but in this case may be most appropriate as it may or may not be specific to a 4x4. So leaving out of one or the other catagory may not benefit all who are experiencing this issue.

I do appreciate the heads-up.

 

What should they be torqued to? I dont want to over or under tighten them. Are they stretch to yield?

Would the slip yoke be the culprit here? When inspecting the truck, it is not moving forward or reverse or is the suspension being compressed. Only the steering wheel is being moved. BTW, this is being performed on a painted shop floor as to not strain the power-steering pump too much.

 

You can try greasing the trans crossmember where it bolts to the frame or do what I did, make some shims out of an freeze bottle and put them between the frame and the trans crossmember and tighten everything back down. I had the same problem for 2 years and tried everything to fix it and the plastic shims took care of it in about 20 minutes work.

 

There is a TSB on this issue with the transmission crossmember for 80-97 F-series. I have the article on a word file. The article number is 97-3-10. It shows a procedure to tighten the crossmember bolts in a pattern, and a way of releaseing the stress off of the frame. I was going to try it but havent got around to it yet.

 

Can you PM me the TSB in word format? I will try it and tell you if it works.

THANKS!

 

Freeze bottle? I do not know what that is. What material is it? Will they wear out and have to be replaced?

 

Since this a common problem with these trucks, I have found a source for people who have this problem or simular to reference to. I found this site about a year ago, very useful for this problem and other common noise/creaking noises coming from these trucks.

http://www.troublecodes.net/articles...d_trucks.shtml

 

I meant anti freeze bottle, sorry for the inconvenience. Ford sells a shim kit but it's a bit pricey, also there is a technical service bulletin for the creaking problem and the shims is the recommended fix.

 

Could you please PM me with the TSB

Thanks
Ken