Suspension Noise
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
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Suspension Noise
2002 Ranger XLT; SuperCab; 4X4; 4.0L soc; 5-speed manual; 63K miles.
Problem is ambient-temperature sensitive; 45 degrees=no noise; 75 degrees or above=noise evidenced at low speed by sounds similar to what one would expect from a broken or loose shock absorber. Sounds like a thumping caused by small undulations in road surface or front-end dive when stopping or front-end rise when starting, but also seems related to steering angles.
Checked shocks, all bushings and tie-rod ends, etc. Search of this forum brought me to a mistaken assumption it might be radius-rod bushings, but 4X4 has torsion bars, not radius-rods (as I humbly learned from the mechanic I finally took it to for bushing replacement).
Two well-qualified mechanics drove it, crawled all under it, and raised on rack to pry, wiggle, shake, and otherwise inspect everything they could think of. No problem found.
Could find no safety issues, so I'm driving it with a vision to the future of the problem escalating to a point where it can finally be diagnosed.
Any suggestions will be received with appreciation. Thanks.
Problem is ambient-temperature sensitive; 45 degrees=no noise; 75 degrees or above=noise evidenced at low speed by sounds similar to what one would expect from a broken or loose shock absorber. Sounds like a thumping caused by small undulations in road surface or front-end dive when stopping or front-end rise when starting, but also seems related to steering angles.
Checked shocks, all bushings and tie-rod ends, etc. Search of this forum brought me to a mistaken assumption it might be radius-rod bushings, but 4X4 has torsion bars, not radius-rods (as I humbly learned from the mechanic I finally took it to for bushing replacement).
Two well-qualified mechanics drove it, crawled all under it, and raised on rack to pry, wiggle, shake, and otherwise inspect everything they could think of. No problem found.
Could find no safety issues, so I'm driving it with a vision to the future of the problem escalating to a point where it can finally be diagnosed.
Any suggestions will be received with appreciation. Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 156
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From: Virginia
I'm glad I'm not the only one with this mystery noise. I hadn't posted about it because I thought I was crazy. The noise I hear (and i think i feel in the steering wheel) only happens when it's warm outside (probably 75 or warmer). Ball joints, shocks, sway bar links are all fairly new and nothing has play in it. I've checked everything from the suspension components to the brake caliper bolts and can't figure it out. Seems like it could be on the drivers side but I'm running out of things to check or replace.
New User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1
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front end tapping sound
i have 2009 4x4 4 door with 36000km i'm getting a tapping sound from the right front mainly between 20 & 30 km i can hear it the most , drivers side front tire was wearing funny so i rotated the tires, it has reduced the sound significantly ,tire pressure was ok ,im thinking the rack and pinion is the cause , i put the truck up on stands and pulled both front tires back and forth and got clicking sound from front right side ,going to take it to the dealer soon
New User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 13
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UPDATE ... found cure to my Ranger front end rattle, TIE ROD ENDS !
After two annoying years of front end rattling on my 2003 Ranger, problem is now fixed. Despite several mechanics who looked at the tie rod ends over the last two years and said they looked fine, out of desperation to get rid of that annoying rattle after replacing ball joints and control arm bushings with no luck, I went ahead anyway and replaced the inner and outer tie rod ends (parts $80, an hour of labor and a $50 alignment) the front end now feels like new and is as quiet as can be. Spread the word !
