2019 FX4 metal to metal rattle in rear - Fix found

[kevinlongisland]

I noticed a metal to metal rattle in the back of my Ranger. Turned out all the bolts on the rear shock absorbers were loose. One in particular more than the other and that was making the rattling sound. You can see in the photos where it wore the mounting bracket down to bare shiny metal. I didn't replace the nuts and bolts like the Ford factory service manual says. I'm 50 years old and have had a ton of Japanese cars and they never call for replacing this type of bolt. Its main force is shear and loosening and tightening will have no effect on it's sheer strength. I could only imagine they want the nut replaced because it's a Nylock style. But I just put locktight on it and I'm sure it'll be good to go! Because I didn't want to remove the entire bolt, the bottom bolt I loosened, hammered the the bolt to open a gap between the nut and the mount, and dripped liquid locktight in there and retightened. Up top, that wasn't possible, so I put gel style locktight on the threads sticking out, loosened the bolt almost all the way, then retightened. I hope some of the locktight got past the nylon locking ring and onto the metal to metal threads.

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[harringtondav]

That looks like Loctite 242 thread locker. Good choice because it allows the fastener to be removed later.
Although it works better applied to the threads before the nut is replaced. I don't think it will help much applied to the ends of the threads. It doesn't wick like the less viscous Loctite lockers. I doubt much will make it past the nylock ring.

 

[Retirednavy2010]

That looks like Loctite 242 thread locker. Good choice because it allows the fastener to be removed later.
Although it works better applied to the threads before the nut is replaced. I don't think it will help much applied to the ends of the threads. It doesn't wick like the less viscous Loctite lockers. I doubt much will make it past the nylock ring.

True, locktite works in the threads when to air is pushed out. I know it sounds wierd but when I worked in the advanced development center for a automotive steering suplier we used numerous different types of locktite (different colors for different strengths) and it's all the same. Locktite on the threads and tighten over the threads and when there is a lack of air between threads it "hardens" to it's stregnth rating. Red is the worst, (or best) even with heat I've broken aluminum housing before the locktite gave free.

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