Front End "Clunk"
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Front End "Clunk"
About a month ago, my 2000 Excursion Ltd. 4x4 7.3 with 81k miles started making a clunking noise in the front end. It usually does it when turning and sometimes when first accelerating in a straight line. I jacked it up and can't find any play whatsoever in the ball joints, tie rod ends, drag link or in the wheel hubs themselves and the steering box is tight. I don't feel anything in the steering wheel when it happens. I also checked the shocks and they're tight. I retorqued all the front lug nuts. I replaced the front steering stabilizer shock about a week after the noise first started and that had no effect on it (the old one had been bottomed out on something and was dented and leaking). The vehicle's never been wrecked and there's no sign of any damage underneath.
There does appear to be somewhat of a gap in the two front leaf springs, but nothing appears out of line nor are there any signs of cracks or sagging. The vehicle sits perfectly level. Also, it's done very little hard towing.
I asked my wife if I could tie her to the frame and drive it and let her see where the noise was coming from but couldn't get much cooperation from her, so I'm having to ask you fine folks for some advice.
Thanks!
BJ Lexington, KY
There does appear to be somewhat of a gap in the two front leaf springs, but nothing appears out of line nor are there any signs of cracks or sagging. The vehicle sits perfectly level. Also, it's done very little hard towing.
I asked my wife if I could tie her to the frame and drive it and let her see where the noise was coming from but couldn't get much cooperation from her, so I'm having to ask you fine folks for some advice.
Thanks!
BJ Lexington, KY
Last edited by whjco; Dec 15, 2007 at 12:32 PM.
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Me too mine has 137K miles and still clunking. Haven't pulled drive shaft too lazy but clunk front,, and rear.. Doesn't appear to be "mission critical".. all other systems up to 100% so when you find out the clunk let me know.
I have already changed end links,, shocks tires, nothing appears loose. so drive on..
I have already changed end links,, shocks tires, nothing appears loose. so drive on..
Cargo Master
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From: Mount Royal, NJ
The spline in the driveshaft needs to be repacked with grease. It makes a clunk as it moves back and forth with accelleration or braking since there is not enough grease there to act as a cushion. Common problem at your mileage.
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Originally Posted by housedad
The spline in the driveshaft needs to be repacked with grease. It makes a clunk as it moves back and forth with accelleration or braking since there is not enough grease there to act as a cushion. Common problem at your mileage.
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Thanks for your reply. I'll give it a try when the weather drys up around here a little bit. I assume I'll need to do both the front and rear spline.
For the short term, I may give it a shot of penephite which would at least ease the symptoms until I can get some grease in the splines.
BJ Lexington, KY
For the short term, I may give it a shot of penephite which would at least ease the symptoms until I can get some grease in the splines.
BJ Lexington, KY
Tuned
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From: Washington DC
I will bet good money that it is the ball joints. I had the same type of clunk in my front end and after checking it over I couldn't find anything. After taking it to a shop with a lift, and isolating each wheel, it was painfully clear it was the ball joints.
I wouldn't wait all that long to get it correctly diagnosed.
I wouldn't wait all that long to get it correctly diagnosed.
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Mike,
Thanks so much for your advice. I'm taking it to the dealer in the morning for the CMP recall and I'll get them to check it out.
BJ Lexington, KY
Thanks so much for your advice. I'm taking it to the dealer in the morning for the CMP recall and I'll get them to check it out.
BJ Lexington, KY
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Well, I'm sitting here at the dealer waiting to have the CMP replaced as per the recall. I had them check out the front end and everything's in good shape with the ball joints and steering components. They found the ''clunk'' in the sway bar end link bushings. I haven't gotten the bill yet, but they said that it's about a 15 minute job to replace them. I'm a happy camper!
BJ Lexington
BJ Lexington
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Cross-Country
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That was the problem in my 2000 as well. Found it 4 years ago after I bought it used. I haven't checked in for awhile so glad to see you got it figured out.
The main issue is on the right hand passenger side the hole in the swaybar mount is oblong and when the bolt gets loose the bolt can move up and down in the slot and that is the clunk you hear. The drivers side is a regular hole so doesn't happen on that side.
I think a lot of the ball joint issues is really this as well. Dealers make a lot more doing ball joints than tightening a bolt.
The main issue is on the right hand passenger side the hole in the swaybar mount is oblong and when the bolt gets loose the bolt can move up and down in the slot and that is the clunk you hear. The drivers side is a regular hole so doesn't happen on that side.
I think a lot of the ball joint issues is really this as well. Dealers make a lot more doing ball joints than tightening a bolt.
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The sway bar end link bushings were definitely bad, but didn't fix the problem. I notice that if I zig zag steer, it will thunk every time I make a left turn. I'm still suspecting some ball joint issues that the mechanic missed yesterday.
BJ Lexington, KY
BJ Lexington, KY
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I took the Excursion back to the dealer. One of the heavy truck mechanics rode with me and heard the clunk and thinks that it's somewhere in the suspension. I'm taking it in next Thursday 12/27 for them to get it up on a lift and check it out.
BJ Lexington, KY
BJ Lexington, KY
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Front end clunk fixed.
Well, we got to the bottom of the problem today. We actually found two problems. First, the passenger side rear shock mount was loose and swinging pretty freely. The top bolt on the passenger side front sway bar bracket was loose and it also appears that the mechanic put the new sway bar end brackets on backwards when it was in the shop week before last. It would have been easy to do since they both had the same part number on them, but they were definitely different in the amount of offset in the part. They again checked out all of the front end and everything else was tight.
It drives as solid as a rock now.
BJ Lexington, KY
It drives as solid as a rock now.
BJ Lexington, KY
Last edited by whjco; Dec 27, 2007 at 12:47 PM.
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i had the same problem with my 2000 excursion went by the ford dealer and paid 59.00 dollars each for the sway bar links and took me about an hour to replace them.i also replace the sway bar bushings.They come with a grease tube lubrication for you to put on the inner part of the bushing, so you wont get any squeege vibrations. I made the mistake of not putting the lubrication grease on one of the bushings and had to go backto put it on to stop the squeege vibration...south texas