Tracking down a thump
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Tracking down a thump
I've been working on tracking down a thump on my 03 CC SRW 6.0 4X4 since I bought it. It had 38k on it, and how has almost 40k. I thought it was a sway bar end link at first. Seemed like a lighter thump noticable in the floor boards.
I installed a DR 4.5" Hanger kit, thinking it would go away with the new sway bar bushings. Nope. It changed a little, but didnt go away. It doesnt seem like it does it over the real small bump, unless there are numerous in a row.
I've re-torqued every bolt related to the front suspension. I've removed both the front and rear sway bars to test. The Drag link ends are brand new. The drivers side ball joints have very minimal wear, and the passenger side are solid.
I'm going remove the front shocks, just to inspect the bushings, but they're brand new DR shocks. I'm 99% sure I put the metal sleeve in the bushings.
The only other thing I can think of is changing the bushings in the leaf springs. Anyone ever done this that has any tips/tricks, and where is the best place to get some?
thanks
Eric
I installed a DR 4.5" Hanger kit, thinking it would go away with the new sway bar bushings. Nope. It changed a little, but didnt go away. It doesnt seem like it does it over the real small bump, unless there are numerous in a row.
I've re-torqued every bolt related to the front suspension. I've removed both the front and rear sway bars to test. The Drag link ends are brand new. The drivers side ball joints have very minimal wear, and the passenger side are solid.
I'm going remove the front shocks, just to inspect the bushings, but they're brand new DR shocks. I'm 99% sure I put the metal sleeve in the bushings.
The only other thing I can think of is changing the bushings in the leaf springs. Anyone ever done this that has any tips/tricks, and where is the best place to get some?
thanks
Eric
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 279
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From: Brighton, Colorado
I'm with you. Pre lift, post lift still a thump. I've heard cab mounts but haven't investigated. I just let it thump.
It is so strong you would figure frame/leaf spring. I have replaced almost everything in the front save sway, cross and track bar.
Common occurance. Maybe that is why they went to coil spring front's.
Peace
It is so strong you would figure frame/leaf spring. I have replaced almost everything in the front save sway, cross and track bar.
Common occurance. Maybe that is why they went to coil spring front's.
Peace
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 8
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From: Western PA
I'm hearing the same noise in my '03 Extended Cab. I only hear it on the driver's side. It's a dull thud, and it only happens over larger bumps or continuously bumpy roads. Also, it doesn't make the noise if I'm going real slow (i.e. under 20 mph).
I had it in the shop last Friday and they told me the drag link was so worn badly that I shouldn't drive it, so I had them replace it. Supposedly my ball joints were still in good shape. Now my wallet is $150 lighter, and I still hear the noise. I don't want to take it back into the shop, I'd rather figure it out myself and only pay for parts instead of $90/hr for labor on top of parts.
Anybody have any idea where the noise might be originating? I was going to start by replacing the front shocks (I still have the stock ones on), then look into the cab mounts...after that I don't know where to look.
I had it in the shop last Friday and they told me the drag link was so worn badly that I shouldn't drive it, so I had them replace it. Supposedly my ball joints were still in good shape. Now my wallet is $150 lighter, and I still hear the noise. I don't want to take it back into the shop, I'd rather figure it out myself and only pay for parts instead of $90/hr for labor on top of parts.
Anybody have any idea where the noise might be originating? I was going to start by replacing the front shocks (I still have the stock ones on), then look into the cab mounts...after that I don't know where to look.
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thump
It usually is sway bar end link bushings.
I changed mine out with urethane with my lift. I actually have both my front and rear sway bars completely removed from the truck, and it didnt change anything.
It's very irritating. I'll sell the truck before I live with it.
Eric
I changed mine out with urethane with my lift. I actually have both my front and rear sway bars completely removed from the truck, and it didnt change anything.
It's very irritating. I'll sell the truck before I live with it.
Eric
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,743
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From: Peoria, IL
I think I've been having the same problem as well. I took it into the Ford Dealership here in town and they replaced the upper and lower balljoints and the front auto locking hubs. I got the truck back and it was still making the noise. I sent the truck to my Uncle's shop back home to get the brakes fixed (Ford dealership said they were horrible, but it wasn't covered by my warranty so I have my uncle to that work) and asked him to figure out the noise. My cousin called me a couple days later and said my brakes were fine (Ford just wanted the $750 they quoted me on the brake job) but the sway bar bushings were bad and my front shocks were getting bad. So now I'm putting new sway bar bushings and Rancho RS9000x's all around. Figured I'd go ahead and replace the stering stabilizer with the Rancho RS5000 too.
I should get my truck back later this week. Hopefully this will take care of the problem. If not I cant think of anything else it could be either.
Hopefully someone here will know.
I should get my truck back later this week. Hopefully this will take care of the problem. If not I cant think of anything else it could be either.
Hopefully someone here will know.
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Anyone ever have the shackle bushings for the front springs that mount up in the frame go bad?
I've checked everything on this piece of crap. I'm going to change my ball joints soon, even though I dont think they're worn enough to thump, only because I have a seal leaking on the front axle. Otherwise I give up.
I've checked everything on this piece of crap. I'm going to change my ball joints soon, even though I dont think they're worn enough to thump, only because I have a seal leaking on the front axle. Otherwise I give up.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 149
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From: Lowell, MA
I just had a similar problem, only it was coming from the back. It turned out to be broken leafs in the springs. The guy in the spring shop said these trucks break springs all the time. They were broken right over the axle and held in place by the clamp. On my passenger side, I only had 1 leaf that was whole! YIKES! The guy had everything in stock, so 600 bucks later I drive away. I wish I had done it sooner. I'm thinking about doing the fronts just for the hell of it. BTW....L&M Spring in Lowell MA... great shop!
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found it
I figured it out. I borrowed a tool with 6 different alligator clips that you can hook on to various places. You run them into the cab in a box, and listen to each channel through head phones. We found the noise at the right shock, mostly at the lower bolt. I took the shock out, and the thump was all gone.
We did some investigating, and it appears there is quite a bit of clearance between the shank of the factory bolts and the shock bushing sleeves that come in the donahoe shocks. I check my bolts against a buddies, and they were identical. I found some other sleeves that were about .025" smaller on the ID and used those.
Eric
We did some investigating, and it appears there is quite a bit of clearance between the shank of the factory bolts and the shock bushing sleeves that come in the donahoe shocks. I check my bolts against a buddies, and they were identical. I found some other sleeves that were about .025" smaller on the ID and used those.
Eric
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 29
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From: San Antonio, Texas
If you have a 4x4, then the noise could be coming from the front drive shaft. It probably needs a little grease to allow it to slide back and forth. Inadequate lube will cause the shaft to bind and not allow the suspension to do its job of absorbing bumps smoothly. Unbolt the shaft and see if it has enough free movement in and out.