Slight creaking from front suspension.

[Hardy12000]

I've got a 2.5" spacer level kit installed, with ranger specific Icon compression 17×8.5" wheels and nitto Ridge grappler 265/70/17 tires.

It's only been about 1000 miles, but I'm getting a slight creak when turning. When sitting in the driveway, turning the wheel all the way left to right makes no odd noises. Going over bumps doesn't really effect it either.

Will post a video soon

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[DukeCanBuildit]

It sounds like it would be wise to double check the torque on all the nuts involved in installing your level kit - upper ball joint, tie rod end, anti-sway bar and axle nut (if removed), strut nuts (3 top and 2 bottom).

Also, it is necessary to discard the old nuts and replace all of them with new nuts when installing a level if it was done by unfastening the knuckle to remove the strut. The nuts are one-time use only because they might not hold their torque on repeated use.

Edited: Read further down to #10 for correction/update to this reply.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

It sounds like it would be wise to double check the torque on all the nuts involved in installing your level kit - upper ball joint, tie rod end, anti-sway bar and axle nut (if removed), strut nuts (3 top and 2 bottom).

Also, it is necessary to discard the old nuts and replace all of them with new nuts when installing a level if it was done by unfastening the knuckle to remove the strut. The nuts are one-time use only because they might not hold their torque on repeated use.

HI Duke,

Not ture....Ford requirement for Torque prevailing nuts is satisfactory performance for 5 on and offs. Been that way before I even hired into Ford. Now Torque to yield is a different story and I have no idea on current 5G what is torque to yield. I had responsibility for fasteners as part of my Department and Steve M was my fastener guy...talented engineer and knew his stuff...learned a lot from him... Ford seems to be selling fasteners for fun and profit...

Do you replace your lug nuts because you removed the wheel?

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

HI Duke,

Not ture....Ford requirement for Torque prevailing nuts is satisfactory performance for 5 on and offs. Been that way before I even hired into Ford. Now Torque to yield is a different story and I have no idea on current 5G what is torque to yield. I had responsibility for fasteners as part of my Department and Steve M was my fastener guy...talented engineer and knew his stuff...learned a lot from him... Ford seems to be selling fasteners for fun and profit...

Do you replace your lug nuts because you removed the wheel?

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Every time! ?

Thanks Phil - I understood that ny-locs for struts and other suspension components and the 35mm axle nut were a one time thing. Good to know that it’s not the case and that a few bucks can be saved. Too late for me but not others.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Every time! ?

Thanks Phil - I understood that ny-locs for struts and other suspension components and the 35mm axle nut were a one time thing. Good to know that it’s not the case and that a few bucks can be saved. Too late for me but not others.

Hi Duke,

Ford does not use Nyloc to my understanding. We did not use at the time I was at Ford. We used a lot of UBS torque prevailing nuts and this is what I see on my Ranger. Aftermarket uses Nyloc but not in production to my knowledge, but I may be wrong. We never considered Nyloc to be robust enough. Steve M hated non oem fasteners at the they failed the torque tension testing which including 5 torque to spec and removals and retention of the correct install and retention of the correct torque. The study of OEM fasteners is quite a learning experience. I used most oem fasteners on my race car....never had a failure doe to loosening. A UBS nut with torque prevailing feature was quite robust time after time. Now these nuts are not cheap in the aftermarket, only because the aftermarket chooses to price them high.

When I was a young engineer on engine mounts, I switched to UBS fastners. My warranty dropped to zero....They really work.

You should feel comfortable reusing the OME fasteners!

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Hi Duke,

Ford does not use Nyloc to my understanding. We did not use at the time I was at Ford. We used a lot of UBS torque prevailing nuts and this is what I see on my Ranger. Aftermarket uses Nyloc but not in production to my knowledge, but I may be wrong. We never considered Nyloc to be robust enough....

Thanks Phil - I always appreciate the insight...and the back stories.

There are a few threads on here that talk about the nuts on our front suspension components and the “need” to replace, rather than reuse them. Of course, some of the comments are from well-known members who typically provide good insights and advice and it all comes from a good place - safety.

There are a lot of “Ford recommends...”, “you should always replace...”, any good shop knows not to reuse...”, “level kit makers are now including new nuts...” type of comments. The 35mm axle nut replacement certainly isn’t Nyloc but folks have mentioned that Ford says to discard them.

I mean, - what’s a guy to think, right?

Anyway, I remember there being reddish rings on the top portions of the nuts I replaced. I’ve included a picture from the Ford parts site below for your thoughts on these. Maybe they’re not Nylocs and some of the members, especially me, are making incorrect assumptions. These types of nuts are used on the tie-rod end, upper pall joint, strut top mount studs, and bottom strut studs.

Have a look - to the untrained eye, they look like Nylocs but are they?

 

[Trigganometry]

I’ve seen these more recently. It’s not a nylon insert. Looks to be UHMW material and if it is would be 10X stronger than nylon and won’t deteriorate the same way or become brittle with age. Also has the benefit of acting like a seal as a moisture barrier. They will cost more too!

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Thanks Phil - I always appreciate the insight...and the back stories.

There are a few threads on here that talk about the nuts on our front suspension components and the “need” to replace, rather than reuse them. Of course, some of the comments are from well-known members who typically provide good insights and advice and it all comes from a good place - safety.

There are a lot of “Ford recommends...”, “you should always replace...”, any good shop knows not to reuse...”, “level kit makers are now including new nuts...” type of comments. The 35mm axle nut replacement certainly isn’t Nyloc but folks have mentioned that Ford says to discard them.

I mean, - what’s a guy to think, right?

Anyway, I remember there being reddish rings on the top portions of the nuts I replaced. I’ve included a picture from the Ford parts site below for your thoughts on these. Maybe they’re not Nylocs and some of the members, especially me, are making incorrect assumptions. These types of nuts are used on the tie-rod end, upper pall joint, strut top mount studs, and bottom strut studs.

Have a look - to the untrained eye, they look like Nylocs but are they?

Hi Duke,

There appears to be a seal more than a locking feature to me. I was looking for some local deformation in the threaded area that locally deforms the thread inside and is the locking mechanism. These are called UBS Flange nuts...UBS is Uniform Bearing Surface....

Is there an adhesive patch on the stud? If not I think loc tite would work well to reuse.

I can see where the axle nuts are torque to yeild and thus best to use new in that application. World of fasteners is changing from my 18 years away from Ford... Steve M is still there, but he must be close to retirement age now....wish I could get a hold of him....

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

I’ve seen these more recently. It’s not a nylon insert. Looks to be UHMW material and if it is would be 10X stronger than nylon and won’t deteriorate the same way or become brittle with age. Also has the benefit of acting like a seal as a moisture barrier. They will cost more too!

Thanks Rick - great feedback.

UHMW (Ultra High Molecular Weight) Polyethylene
UBS (Uniform Bearing Surface)
It’s hard to keep up with you Engineers.

When I was an English Major in university, my friends and I would jokingly refer to the lack of literary skill exhibited by our other friends in Engineering. “I always wanted to be an Engineer and now I are one.” That kind of thing.

NEVER AGAIN!

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Hi Duke,

There appears to be a seal more than a locking feature to me. I was looking for some local deformation in the threaded area that locally deforms the thread inside and is the locking mechanism. These are called UBS Flange nuts...UBS is Uniform Bearing Surface....

Is there an adhesive patch on the stud? If not I think loc tite would work well to reuse.

I can see where the axle nuts are torque to yeild and thus best to use new in that application. World of fasteners is changing from my 18 years away from Ford... Steve M is still there, but he must be close to retirement age now....wish I could get a hold of him....

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Thanks so much Phil - I can see how a layperson would make the Nyloc assumption and I’m glad you saw my reply to the OP’s (@Hardy12000) thread.

After seeing replies from you and @Trigganometry as well as doing a little reading, I’ve learned something new.

I stand corrected, but more importantly, informed.

 

[Hardy12000]

I will still take it up to the shop that installed it and have them make sure everything is torqued to spec

 

[Hardy12000]

UPDATE: The ranger is completely mechanically sound. These crazy snowy and cold days in Northern michigan caused some pretty ridiculous buildup in the wheel well. The gap between the truck body and the running board was completely filled with diamond hard super ice.

After checking the torque on everything, they spent about 40 minutes washing out my the wheel wells with warm water. Now it's 100 percent silent, and I need to buy some mud flaps.

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