I have a problem with my 08 CC and unfortunately right now can't afford to take it to a shop. It's a pop when I change direction after backing up, coming from under my feet. Sounds like it's coming from somewhere around the front wheel area but I've jacked it up and no wheel end play or loose suspension. After backing up with the rear end going counter clockwise, stopping, putting it in gear and taking off, it pops pretty loud. After that initial pop it won't do it again unless I stop at a light. When I take off, it pops. But it doesn't even do THIS all the time. It will only do it if I take it out of gear and let the truck coast in neutral til I have to stop, then after putting it into gear, when I take off, it pops. Not when I put it IN GEAR, but when I take off. The only reason I discovered that aspect of it was because I was almost home today and it started regenning, and there was no sense in letting it continue as I was almost home. So I took it out of gear to stop it from regenning. When I coasted to a stop, I put it in gear, waited for the light to change, took off, and heard it. It's reproducable every time. Ive looked at everything I can think of. Thinking it might be related to where the trans meets the engine??? but I'm just guessing, and know I'm asking the impossible by trying to get help by just describing it versus letting a mechanic hear it, but financially now I just don't have the money. So if anyone, (cheezit, Senix, etc.) has any ideas of what it might be, or what I could check, I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance. Sorry for the length.

 

Hi, Scott!

Sounds to me like a textbook case of the slip joint in your driveshaft needing to be greased. Take a look here:

Slip joint regreasing

Joel(ruschejj) and I were talking about this exact thing yesterday. His truck has over 140,000 miles and the noise was starting to concern him. He greased both joints and the problem went away immediately.

Give it a try, I think it'll work!

 

x3 I am with Tom and Joel. Sounds like slip joints need some grease. Interesting that you have that now..maybe this is going to be a wide spread issue as we get some miles on this thing.

Wonder if any of this has to do with the longer leaf springs in the rear? More suspension travel?

 

Thanks guys.... I mean it. Ill check that. It's strange it only does it when I turn left after backing right, but would that make sense? It doesnt just do it when I put it in gear. Actually it DOESNT do it then, but only after like I described..... after coasting then after taking off. It WONT do it when I put it in gear, but when I take off. Anyway I'll check that. Thanks again guys!

 

Does it only do it if you take it out of gear and coast to a stop? Or can you leave it in gear come to a stop, then take off again, would it pop then???

My cousins Jeep just recently did something similar to what you describe. Basically anytime he came to a stop then took off again it would pop. I had a suspension of suspension components (like you) and sure enough it was.

The test we did to confirm this was him in the Jeep backing up a few inches then hitting the breaks, then forward a few inches and hitting the breaks (hard enough to apply some force on drive-train components and suspension components). I crawled under the Jeep to look for any play in Control arms and drive shafts.

What it was specifically was his rear lower control arm bushings were worn out allowing the axle to shift slightly back and forth as he would stop the start up again. I know this would not apply to the rear axle of out trucks. But (correct me if I am wrong here, I am not home right now to crawl under my truck to look) our front axle has two control arms right?

I am sure Crazy, and Senix are right on this one, but I'm just throwing out another idea.

Kyle...

 

Just crawled out from under it after greasing this.... didn't fix it. Yes... 03SilverTJ, it ONLY does it when coasting. If I stop with it in gear, or back up then put it in drive, it wont do it. It also wont do it if I shift from drive to reverse to drive, ONLY after backing up right, then turning left and taking off, or coasting to a stop, then putting it in drive and taking off. It sounds like a suspension pop. I know what the driveshaft pop or ujoint pop sounds like, and while this was close, it just didnt feel like that was the issue. The sound is coming from up front, I can tell it's coming from around the front wheel area right under my feet. I just greased the slip yoke, and she's still doing it. But hey guys, thanks for the heads up on the slip yoke...... at least that's out of the way!! And like the guy in that how to stated, "Thanks FORD for sticking us with having to do this and saving a few cents by leaving out ANY grease fittings."

 

I agree that it sounds like a driveshaft or u-joint. I have a 2010 F350 with 300 miles on it and my drivetrain makes a popping noise going up a steap hill. My 2008 did the smae thing. It only does it at a low speed less than 5 miles per hour on a hill. It sounds like it's putting a strian on the drivetrain, especially turning while going up a hill.

You said your truck pops when you turn, I think turning moves a lot of parts at different angles, therefore putting more pressure on the parts that's moving - driveshaft etc.

This is just my thoughts......Good luck getting it corrected!

 

Very interesting...

Both your hubs are unlocked, right?

I think there's a slip joint on the front driveshaft as well. Did you grease that one?

Joel told me his front one was making more noise than the rear because of the front suspension compressing and rebounding, causing the joint to slide.

I'll keep thinking about this one...

 

Sounds like one of your front hubs, make sure they are unlocked. Just a guess thou.

 

Both hubs ARE unlocked, or in AUTO. And yeah, I greased that spline before I ever posted this as I thought that's what it was. But it does this whether in 4X4 or 2 wheel, and only does it like I stated. I'm leaning to a suspension pop or maybe something loose in the driveline. Seen many of them ole unloaded semi's rise up on the driver side due to the torque, and am thinking maybe something under there is popping, but I'm at a loss. i can work on these things to an extent. But I'm beginning to feel this is going to take somebody who's seen it before or HEARD it before. I've checked all I know to check. I'll keep following leads. Thanks everybody!

 

i had this happen to me on a old jimmy i used to own the rubber mounts that the torsion bars connect inside the frame rail broke loose and would pop on the frame when you turned i know this is tottally unrelated to the superduty but rather sayin just cause i remembered it when i read this? maybe its something in thosebig arms that connect to the front axle?

 

X2!! That's what I am thinking! I would call them control arms, but I know Ford calls them something else.

Also check your track bar/panhard bar (whichever you refer to it as). Controlling lateral movement of the front axle, could be why it makes the noise while turning.

I am just trying to throw ideas your way of things I would be checking if it were my truck.... I'll keep thinking about it and making suggestions as the thoughts come.

P.S. I've been up now for about 24hrs, so please excuse me if I don't make sense... (working on adjusting my sleep schedule from a night shift to a day shift...

 

Does ford call them Twin I-Beams?

 

I experience the same noise if I understand SSHARBER correctly. When traveling at a slow speed with axels turning but engine idling if I hit the gas abruptly the drivetrain pops. I personally suspect it has to do with the engine catching up to axel speed so possible the torque converter or transfer case? My sound comes from under me also, and can only be replacated when driving slow. Does this sound the same as your SSHarber?

 

Sorry for your troubles ssharber. I got lucky and my noises went away with greasing both the yokes but your noise really sounds like its the same.

We all have something to think about today, don't we?