Snapping/Clunking Sound at Low turns, in D and R

[ashank11]

Happy holidays, wondering if anyone has experienced the "clunk/snap" sound with their ranger:

(? Volume up, it's not crazy loud, sorry)

-Usually when reversing or slow turns, but happens while driving occasionally straight too

-NORMALLY one super LOUD clunk you can hear a mile away... The video I finally got is the same sound but more frequent and quieter.

-everything was retorqued from the shop, took to two dealerships and an off road shop. I am at 40k and haven't changed diff fluid, but sometimes the clunk is INSANELY loud, doesn't seem like stuff in it, maybe though.

-my BDS kit did does not include UCAs, could the OEM ones with the new knuckle cause that if they aren't seated properly?


Ps. Yes I know you may not like lifts blah blah, I'm not whining or saying it's unfair.... Just curious if anyone has any insight

6inch BDS Coilover lift on the tremor package(diff is dropped)

Thanks again if you have any insight, I appreciate it, worried it's the diff but hoping it's tie rod ends or something else...

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[DukeCanBuildit]

With a lift, we often assume it’s suspension but sometimes, it’s not the usual culprits. It’s worth a quick check of motor mounts and body mounts. There have been reports of those being loose by a few members.

Also, there was a video posted of how rear differentials rotate with acceleration and gear changes. I forget the term for it. I can’t help but recall how the pattern of the visual rotations match with the pattern of clunks in your posted video. Drive-line maybe?

Just thinking outside the box here, good luck with this.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

First thing that comes to mind is lower ball joints - with a lift the are often stressed and can prematurely wear. Or from hitting a pothole at speed, I had it happen both ways with my Foz that was lifted. If you have the ability to isolate which side it comes from, pull the wheel and inspect the lower ball joint.

Which BDS kit did you get?


What time stamp is the sound in your audio clip?

 

[ashank11]

First thing that comes to mind is lower ball joints - with a lift the are often stressed and can prematurely wear. Or from hitting a pothole at speed, I had it happen both ways with my Foz that was lifted. If you have the ability to isolate which side it comes from, pull the wheel and inspect the lower ball joint.

Which BDS kit did you get?


What time stamp is the sound in your audio clip?

Two and Five Seconds is the loudest. I hear usually one loud snap/crack that is VERY loud, turns heads from walkers, and it usually slightly turns my steering wheel off centered too when it happens.

I have the 2.5 coilovers kit as well as the rear shackle, so no issue with tremor components. I'm taking to another shop and getting the BDS UCAs, my kit didn't come with any.

What do I look for specifically when I inspect the lower ball joints? The large crack/snap could be a totally different issue from the smaller sounds in my video clip too, that would suck.

 

[ashank11]

With a lift, we often assume it’s suspension but sometimes, it’s not the usual culprits. It’s worth a quick check of motor mounts and body mounts. There have been reports of those being loose by a few members.

Also, there was a video posted of how rear differentials rotate with acceleration and gear changes. I forget the term for it. I can’t help but recall how the pattern of the visual rotations match with the pattern of clunks in your posted video. Drive-line maybe?

Just thinking outside the box here, good luck with this.

Thanks for the info, I just haven't heard of this issue with any of the other lifted trucks in the forum, I'm guessing it was from the install then but I'm not sure what. Unfortunately the noise is usually one VERY loud crack/snap and not the quiet/frequent ones in the video. Loud enough to hear 50 yards away

 

[Jhbryaniv]

Two and Five Seconds is the loudest. I hear usually one loud snap/crack that is VERY loud, turns heads from walkers, and it usually slightly turns my steering wheel off centered too when it happens.

I have the 2.5 coilovers kit as well as the rear shackle, so no issue with tremor components. I'm taking to another shop and getting the BDS UCAs, my kit didn't come with any.

What do I look for specifically when I inspect the lower ball joints? The large crack/snap could be a totally different issue from the smaller sounds in my video clip too, that would suck.

When my foz would go through lower ball joints it was a clunk, and when I took the ball joints out they would vary from easy to move to flopping around - the new ones were always stiff and didn't move easily.

 

[LawnMM]

Jack each wheel up in the front and check for play front to back and up and down. Guessing you'll see some front to back on the one making noise. Then try cranking that wheel to the side so you can get your head in there and give it a shake again (possibly with a buddy) and some light and look for what's moving when it shakes.

Is it just loose somewhere? Are the bushings bad in the lower shock? Lower arm? Upper arm? Is the ball joint moving around a lot when it wiggles where the upper arm meets the knuckle? Or at the end of the tie rod?

Good luck.

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