2011 F-250 front end clunk - can't figure out

[DaveC]

Alright fellas, it's headed to the shop next week if I can't discover the source of my loose tooth feeling front end.
Truck has right under 106,000 miles on it.
Stock size tires, no lift. Owned since new.

I'm feeling a looseness when going over road expansion joints that gets more pronounced when taking a turn and hitting a rut or bump. It feels like it is under my feet on the drivers side- not sure about feel from passenger side.


I've searched the net and checked the most common culprits the best I could without finding an answer.
I'm hoping someone on here has already figured it out on a 2006 & up ford SD front end.

I thought it was the wore out body mounts so I replaced them, noise / clunk still there. I also replaced the shocks with Bilstein 5100's- all bolts tight.

One net search indicated it may be the lower shock mount bolts having too much slack between the OD of the bolt and the ID of the shock mount, but that wouldn't explain why it existed before the shock replacement-unless it was originally the body mounts. (I swapped both components at the same time)

I've jacked up the front (one wheel at a time) and have no side to side or up & down play in the wheels - that I can feel with my hands or pry bar.

The tie rod ends have a smidge of looseness when both tire are on the ground, but none when trying to move the tire by hand side to side when jacked up.

Any Ideas?

[Traildust]

Ball joints

[Goldeneagle]

4X4? CV joints?

[perow]

probably ball joints
I have a 2012 and am replacing them next week for the same reason

[DaveC]

Ball Joints? sounds easy enough and if I could feel any movement when jacked up or it was a RAM I'd think that was it too, but being a Ford I figured they'd last a little longer than 100k.



Yes it's a 4x4, c/v joints could be a cause I guess. I can grab the exposed portion with my hand, but feel no obvious looseness.


Any other guesses?

[DaveC]

probably ball joints
I have a 2012 and am replacing them next week for the same reason

Is yours acting the way I described, clunking over expansion joints and popping in corners with a divot or bump in it?

[Jakesfish]

check the drag link. (side to side steering wheel shake..)
replace shocks.. check stabilizer links (rubber bushings)
and have them adjust the steering box, (they get slack too)
loosen top nut, adjust the center allen till it stops and back out 3/4 turn tighten jamb nut
and as said above ball joints...

[gonehuntin]

If you are feeling loosness when hitting bumps and expansion joints you need to replace the trac bar bushing and ball joint.

[perow]

Is yours acting the way I described, clunking over expansion joints and popping in corners with a divot or bump in it?

I have the clunking over bumps

ford also has the death wobble just like dodge-I was able to get a lot of suspension parts replaced under warranty a few years back

[Slnemjo1978]

Ball joints. I have a 04 ford and had to replace uppers and lowers at about 150000. Also look into tie rod ends and track bar.

[DaveC]

I have the clunking over bumps

ford also has the death wobble just like dodge-I was able to get a lot of suspension parts replaced under warranty a few years back

Are you doing them yourself and if not, have you got a quote on the job yet?

I'm debating on either letting an acquaintance do it for side money or taking it to the shop.

I just don't want to replace unneeded parts, throwing money at it to make it go away.

[DaveC]

Ball joints. I have a 04 ford and had to replace uppers and lowers at about 150000. Also look into tie rod ends and track bar.

Will do, thanks.

[Mike D]

Check the bushings on your trailing arms.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[DaveC]

Check the bushings on your trailing arms.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

They "feel" tight , no slop.
But my force isn't near what the trucks weight puts on the moving parts.

[Mconner]

Sway bar end links