New clunking sound..

[toms89]

Ok. Just very recently my Expy started to clunk (metalic noise) when first accelerating from a stop as if something is taking up the slack. Not sure if it is suspension or drivetrain related. Does not clunk when putting it into gear so do not believe its related to the tranny, rear drive shaft or U-joints (but not ruling it out). Could be transfer case or front drivetrain related. I pulled and tugged on everthing suspension and drive train related and no obvious slack. Just like to hear all the ideas, recommendations and common issues with expys with 114,000 miles.

The expy is gently driven and rarely exceeds the speed limit so I don't know how it could possibly be drivetrain related.....

Oh hell...scratch that last statement. It has seen some serious abuse!!!

 

[Thermo]

Toms, try replacing your inner and outer tie rod ends. My truck used to have a good clunk to it when I changed directions and most of that went away when I put in new tie rod ends. None of mine had any real kind of play, but they needed to be replaced as they were still the stock ones with 130K miles on the truck and 70K of that with a lift and oversized tires on the truck.

If you need any help with this, let me know. There is a way to do the tie rod ends and more than likely not need an alignment after the fact. Granted, getting one is advisable.

 

[toms89]

Toms, try replacing your inner and outer tie rod ends. My truck used to have a good clunk to it when I changed directions and most of that went away when I put in new tie rod ends. None of mine had any real kind of play, but they needed to be replaced as they were still the stock ones with 130K miles on the truck and 70K of that with a lift and oversized tires on the truck.

If you need any help with this, let me know. There is a way to do the tie rod ends and more than likely not need an alignment after the fact. Granted, getting one is advisable.

As in backwards / frontwards? Because mine does not do it on turns.

I again got under the truck today and was tugging hard on everything. I do have some play on the drivers side inner cv joint. Usually never feel any play. Thinking the hard launches on dry pavement might be taking their toll. Will keep watch on it to be certain. Sure it will get worse or spit something out. Then I will know.

 

[Thermo]

Toms, yes, when I would go from forwards to reverse or reverse to forwards and have the wheel cocked to one side or the other, that is when the noise was the most obvious. I checked my front end components and they were all tight (no visible play). But, I figured with all the torture I have put the front steering through with the oversized tires, I was probably due anyways.

It may very well be the CV joint with some play in it. If you need some help, let me know. I have done CV joints and have all the tools we would need. Even the 35MM socket for the half shaft. Granted, yours is going to be more difficult than my truck as I could pull the half shaft out without having to break apart the suspension (thank goodness for the lift kit). But, I have ways around that though too.

I'm down near California, MD. I'm an hour south of DC.

 

[toms89]

Its actually a new halfshaft I installed about 20,000 miles ago. It does fit through stock suspension. Had a boot all screwed up and it was much easier just to replace the half shaft at the time. I will wait a bit as it is sure to get worse if its the cv joint.

I will make sure to keep an eye on the tie rods then too as it does have 114,000 miles on the truck.

Thanks Thermo.

 

[litexpy]

Check your front link pins.If the bushings wear out they will start to clunk.

 

[BakerEdition]

Ok. Just very recently my Expy started to clunk (metalic noise) when first accelerating from a stop as if something is taking up the slack. Not sure if it is suspension or drivetrain related. Does not clunk when putting it into gear so do not believe its related to the tranny, rear drive shaft or U-joints (but not ruling it out). Could be transfer case or front drivetrain related. I pulled and tugged on everthing suspension and drive train related and no obvious slack. Just like to hear all the ideas, recommendations and common issues with expys with 114,000 miles.

The expy is gently driven and rarely exceeds the speed limit so I don't know how it could possibly be drivetrain related.....

Oh hell...scratch that last statement. It has seen some serious abuse!!!

Its probably the parachutes slammin around on take off... seriously...you may have a brake caliper hangin up a little and the hardware could have some slack...the caliper can move...let us know what you find...

 

[Sclass-hole]

Sorry to drag this back up but I thought it might be better than starting a new thread.

I noticed while at lunch my Expedition would give 2 or 3 good solid "clunks" at take off and 1 or 2 when it shifted into second. It doesn't make any noise if I take off slowly or at high speed. I can feel it in the floorboard under my feet and it sounds pretty bad. Truck drives straight down the road and makes no other odd noises. I do know for a fact that it is in dire need of shocks but I wouldn't think that would cause a sound or feel like that in the floorboard.

I've owned the truck 2 days and haven't had a chance to climb under it and check things out. Just wondered because this sounds a lot like my problem, if it was ever resolved?

 

[m1gunner]

****************EDIT***************

CHECK YOUR SHOCK MOUNT BUSHINGS!!! THAT'S A HUGE CLUNK SOUND WHEN THEY FAIL
more commonly than not.. they fail in trucks that are still running oem shocks, or ones that drive mostly in dry hot areas, along with near water.



--another possibility

I had to fix my ebrake shoes, they were completely rattling around in side of the drum on take off, and stop. sounded like a wicked clunk. also check your wheel bearings, if you're not lifted or on mud terrains.. it should make a whirring sound while rolling, turning, stopping, or slowing.

--Always visually check your CV's

---- and If you think it may be in your front drive line. Grab a sharpie or grease marker, and notch a line on your front drive shaft where it meets the transfer case... then remove it all together, from the front diff, and transfer case...again.. make sure you mark exactly where it was. so you can re-install it without needing it balanced.

drive it for a few miles, in 2wd. and see if your clunk went away.

it takes all of ten minutes to accomplish that.. it's fairly easy.

--- On my old expedition.. i was having a similar problem, and ended up yanking it all out and rebuilding it.. If by chance it's coming from the rear diff. well hell, you better just throw some 4.56s in there and roll on some 35s. after all, you're already all up in her!



But seriously, I'd side with baker.. check all four corners on your brakes first. along with those rubber shock mounts ( bushings)

Hope that helps.

 

[Doc Bernie]

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum as I recently bought a 2011 limited version from a dealer. And for me there is a lot to learn! I bought it, even if I heard this clunking noise from underneath. They replaced the sway bars on the back axle. I assume that the though that this fixes the problem. It appears when I accelerate slowly from the 1st to the 2nd and again, also when I slow down in traffic. I read a lot here and thought about greasing the driveshaft or suspension. Then I heard that sound also when the engine was still running and I opened the door. My electrical running boards are down as they need a clean up and are stuck down! I had a closer look and I could here that they want to move. Just haven't had the time to clean and grease the mechanism due to cold weather. Anyhow, I went through the trucks info menu and switched them from auto to the off position. Not to the down position! The clunking noise was gone. I hope this helps some people before you spent hundreds of $ and it could be just as simple as that