Thumping Sound
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 137
Likes: 1
From: Ponca City, OK
Thumping Sound
Okay, I need some expert advise on this thumping noise. I have read all the topics and threads for several months. None of the recommendations so far have helped me in tracking down and fixing this noise. My truck is a 03 F250, 5.4, auto with only two wheel drive. I have replaced the front stablisher bushings, front shocks and wheel bearings. Both the local Ford house and a independent front end shop could not find, but they both could hear the thumping sound. Everything is tight both under the truck and under the dash that I can find. The front end shop stated that all the bushings and grommets were in place. The thumping sound started around 30,000 milkes and the truck now has 88,000. Anyone have any clues?
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
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From: Central Florida
Need more info. Left, center or front. Metal on metal, metal on plastic, plastic on plastic. Engine bay, front axle/suspension, under the front seats. Only when your at speed or just taking off, or only when you turn, only when you run over cats?
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 137
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From: Ponca City, OK
The best I can described it is like a loose left front shock, while sitting in the driver's seat. When over in the right seat the thumping sounds more in the center of the front end. It happens all the time on rough surfaces and at any speed. Funny thing is when driving with my head out the window I cannot hear it, only when inside the truck. Again it is a deep thumping sound like metal banging against rubber? The front end shop and I both agree it seems to be in the un-sprung suspension some where.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 137
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From: Ponca City, OK
The shock mounts and the motor mounts have been checked. The tires wear even and the truck drives fine. And why turn on the radio when you can listen to the sweat sound of a FORD V8?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,191
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From: New York
This one sounds like a sneaky one to diagnose. Here might be a long shot, but taking your focus away from the obvious suspension parts, since you mentioned it happens during rough roads, try taking a look at the motor mounts. A deep, metal to rubber type thumping noise towards the center of the front of the truck and heard mainly through the cab and not from outside..... you never know. Maybe a single side, just enough rough road to cause the engine to bounce a bit and thump when it comes back down on the mount.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 6
From: Ketchikan, AK.
some people have also mentioned on here that they tightened up the cab mounting bolts, and that has helped. with the front stabilizer, have you replaced the end links themselves, or just the 2 main bracket bushings? the end links also tend to go bad, and unfortunately must be replaced entirely, unless you want to try to press them out and go with some good poly bushings. goodluck, and let us know when you track it down !!
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Ponca City, OK
Thanks for all the good advice. One thing about the noise on rough roads. It does not have to be really a "rough" road. I can hear the noise even going over joints in the concrete at very low speeds. In fact you can hear the noise at any time not only at low speeds, the wind noise ijust cancels it out at faster speeds. I did check the motor mounts several miles ago and besides if they were bad I probably could not have gone 80,000 miles without some other problem showing up. And yes, I have already checked the body bolts. SOMEONE help it is driving me crazy......
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: New York
You can go around the truck and gently tap on the body panels and front bumper and such. I've found some loose nuts and bolts that way. Then just tighten them down and you will slowly eliminate the noises.
Junior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 58
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From: Orangevale, CA
This is a long shot, but it's a problem I've noticed in my '05 F-250 CC 5.4. It took me a while to figure it out, but when I hit bumps the break petal bounces just enough to give it a nice thump sound. If I hold it up with my other foot, the sound stops, so you might want to give that a try, you never know. Good luck.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
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Can you actually feel the problem in the floor of the truck? Maybe it is being transfered from the front of the truck, like the hood. Is the hood secure? Could it be loose at the latch? I know I am really reaching here, but it sounds like you have covered everything else. Something has to be loose, couldn't hurt to check.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 276
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From: Linden, VA
If you figure that one out please post your solution. I have just about decided to live with the thumping in my 2000. It started around 100K miles. I just replaced the ball joints. They were bad but that was not the problem. I am now looking into steering linkages and other suspension parts.