What is this noise? Anyone familiar with this?

[Mitch65]

My 21 Tremor with 14k miles has been making this clunking noise for the last couple weeks. I don’t notice it while moving but if I turn the wheel when stoped I hear a metal clunk sound. I can’t pin point pass or driver side. Does anyone know what this could be? Tie rods?

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[DukeCanBuildit]

Yikes! Sounds like a cell phone in a clothes dryer. I’d visit the dealer as soon as possible. If they can even find time to see you. ?

 

[Hellrazor]

Inner tie rod ?

 

[Mitch65]

Inner tie rod ?

That’s what I’m thinking but I don’t hear it at l when I’m driving. You would think if it was inner tie rod o would hear it during cornering

 

[RedDakooter05]

That’s what I’m thinking but I don’t hear it at l when I’m driving. You would think if it was inner tie rod o would hear it during cornering

It's not uncommon for suspension/steering noises to quiet down or go away once they're weighed down by the truck.

 

[9zero1790]

My 21 Tremor with 14k miles has been making this clunking noise for the last couple weeks. I don’t notice it while moving but if I turn the wheel when stoped I hear a metal clunk sound. I can’t pin point pass or driver side. Does anyone know what this could be? Tie rods?

hmm sounds like something metal flexing. can you do another round with the engine off?

 

[importfighter01]

These use an electronic motor for steering. Uses a cork screw design inside. Maybe something is worn / damaged and slipping as it operates.

 

[Mitch65]

I can’t do it with the engine off because I can’t turn the wheel. I’m turning the steering wheel back and forth. That’s when I get this sound. It’s audible inside the cab as well

 

[P. A. Schilke]

I can’t do it with the engine off because I can’t turn the wheel. I’m turning the steering wheel back and forth. That’s when I get this sound. It’s audible inside the cab as well

Hi Mitch,

Okay....the condition you are in is called Dry Parking. It is hell on tires...the vehicle has to pass 1000 cycles of Dry park in most new vehicle requirements, so something is wrong and it needs dealer attention.... Make sure you indicate the sound is during dry parking and if the dealer service rep does not know what this is...have them explorer their Tech Ford website for dry parking.

A bit of a back story that I might have covered before....on the Explorer, we had an intermediate shaft pinch bolt joint to steering gear go snap on many Explorers during assembly. Some of the units escaped the plant doors....so the question was "does this cracking of the shaft joint clamp result in loss of steering. So the directive was for Vehicle Dymamics to determine if there was any loss of control and to assess customer awareness of the cracking. So the Vehicle Dynamics Supervisor decided to dry park an Explores with a known cracked intermediate shaft... Well...his arms got tired, so he decided to drive the vehicle home and continue dry parking. Again, his arms got tired and he had to rest and the go at it again... This continued until the tires burst due to being ground down to the core.... So we had to retrieve the vehicle with two new front tires.... The procedure when properly done requires the vehicle to be rolled forward to preclude this happening... Supervisor was soundly embarrassed and I do not think his driveway ever recovered either...

Best,
Phil

 

[Frenchy]

Definitely one of those need to feel around while its happening to figure out the problem. What the exact cause is? Not too sure but I can say doesnt sound good

 

[Mitch65]

Hi Mitch,

Okay....the condition you are in is called Dry Parking. It is hell on tires...the vehicle has to pass 1000 cycles of Dry park in most new vehicle requirements, so something is wrong and it needs dealer attention.... Make sure you indicate the sound is during dry parking and if the dealer service rep does not know what this is...have them explorer their Tech Ford website for dry parking.

A bit of a back story that I might have covered before....on the Explorer, we had an intermediate shaft pinch bolt joint to steering gear go snap on many Explorers during assembly. Some of the units escaped the plant doors....so the question was "does this cracking of the shaft joint clamp result in loss of steering. So the directive was for Vehicle Dymamics to determine if there was any loss of control and to assess customer awareness of the cracking. So the Vehicle Dynamics Supervisor decided to dry park an Explores with a known cracked intermediate shaft... Well...his arms got tired, so he decided to drive the vehicle home and continue dry parking. Again, his arms got tired and he had to rest and the go at it again... This continued until the tires burst due to being ground down to the core.... So we had to retrieve the vehicle with two new front tires.... The procedure when properly done requires the vehicle to be rolled forward to preclude this happening... Supervisor was soundly embarrassed and I do not think his driveway ever recovered either...

Best,
Phil

Thank you!! I'm taking it to Ford on Friday so fingers crossed its a quick easy fix. Thank god for warranties lol.

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