Ford Super Duty (1999-2016) :: Massive Pop Or Clunk Coming From Steering Box
Jul 8, 2015
I just got my truck back from the dealership where they said they tightened the nut on my pitman arm and now when turning either left or right when I approach full lock there is a massive pop or clunk that comes from the steering box. I have crawled under the truck and watched and felt everything as the wheels turn and the draglink, tie rod, sway bar links and cv joints as well as the front drive shaft are all fine. The noise is definitely coming from the top end of the pitman arm or higher. What it could be or how to fix it? I have an 03 6.0l f250 with a 4 inch lift all new springs and new sway bar
View 3 Replies
Advertisement
I continuously read that people with 6.2 F250s averaging 13 mpg or so in a combination city/highway driving. This 2014 4x4 barely has enough power to move itself (honestly, I'd rather have my Ram 1500 back) and barely gets 10mpg. Basically have to give it about half-pedal to even get up to freeway speed and floor it if i want to pass anything. Is it just that much of a POS or does this not sound right? Other than a massive "clunk" sound when shifting from reverse to drive or vice versa, no indication of any problems.
View 14 Replies
I had a pretty good clunk going on and found the passenger tie rod was shot. The rest of the steer components looked fine. Fixed it and still get a nice bunch of clunks. Went over the steering again with someone rotating the wheel and didn't notice any crazy movements. The drag link twisted a bit but the joints looked solid compared to the tie rod which was completely shot.
So I decided to dig into it today. Looked again and nothing. So I took it into my back yard to drive over some humps left from stump grinding. Clunk, clunk, clunk. I stuck my head out the window and wouldn't you know it the sound seems to be coming from the rear! Took a pry bar to parts like the sway bar links, shocks, etc.... can't detect anything. Maybe a u-joint? Gotta dig in I guess.
Also my rear springs creak like nothing I've ever heard. Dirt roads it's just creak, creak, creak.
View 2 Replies
So now, what I'm noticing is a bit of a clunk in the steering. It's minor, very minor... but like any problem they usually start that way. The sound is very faint, you can't hear it under the truck, only slightly in the cab but you can feel it in the steering wheel, not so much when driving but when sitting still in a parking spot it's pretty obvious if you rotate the wheel back and forth. You can also feel it in the floor. Sometimes I'll notice this if I hit a bump while I'm driving.
Here's what I know, if you grab the tie rod, either end, you get a slight bit of rotation. Not just one end moving, but the whole thing has a small amount of forward back rotation (I'm not sure if this is normal) I had my girlfriend turn the steering wheel while I checked different components and there didn't seem to be any left right play on the tie rods. The boots look good on the tie rods ends, pic included, looks of similar quality of drivers side.
Then the kicker, here's where I noticed the gobs of grease on the top end drag link, pic also included. This was the last link I looked at, and I guess least expected.
So I guess I'm thinking this drag link is bad, but this is my first stop on the advice train. I wiped off the boot that was covered in grease on the drag link and it looked like its in fine enough condition but I also seriously doubt the shop that added the leveling kit just decided to slob grease all over the outside of this drag link boot. I have my truck oil undercoated before every winter but, that was some bit ago, and this looked more like grease to me.
Truck background: 2012 F250 6.7, I'm at 42,000 miles, 34in tires for most of that, and more recently added a 2 inch leveling kit (40,000 miles) and replaced the suspension all around and added a dual stabilizer. I had some noise coming from the drivers side wheel-well a while back and found that one of the end links on the sway bars was simply loose. Tightened up and all good to go. At 30,000 I got some death wobble. Replaced tires, the stock stabilizer had also gone bad, and had an alignment. Everything good since, but I'm thinking some of these problems now might be remnant of the bad tires.
View 3 Replies
I took my truck to an alignment shop to have him look over my truck to find a steering wheel jerk and a loud clunk noise. He believes it's in the transfer case driveline. Said to remove the driveline then drive it around and see if it goes away, if it does then that's the problem. So to the question, how to properly take this out? Do I need to make marks with a paint pen anywhere to line things back up or does it matter?
View 14 Replies
I just bought a 2004 f350 4x4. There is a horrendous clunk coming from under the cab as soon as I steer and at certain rpm while driving straight. I have researched this topic for hours and everyone says sway bar links. Well here's what I have done so far and the truck still has the same terrible clunk. New sway bar links, new sway bar bushings on axle, new front drivers hub, new front passenger hub needle bearing, both front dust seals on axle, greased all ujoints and balljoints, tightened up some bolts for the dual steering stabilizer, and shook the heck out of all other ujoints and the cab mounts and they all seem good...
View 14 Replies
While I was trying to park, I heard a clunk, wheels stayed in the same position. The steering wheel is loose as hell, it literally feels like its buttered up and wont turn the wheels at all, what to buy to fix it? I am thinking I just need a new gearbox....
View 6 Replies
I have a 02 F250 4x4 5.4. As I drive and when pulling into a driveway I hear a clunk that can be felt in the floor and the steering wheel. I've replaced the wheel bearings and seals, shocks, ball joints, sway bar links and bushings, tie rod ends at the gear box and "right hand inner". The other two tie rods are tight and so is the track bar. I cannot duplicate the sound if I jack it up and move parts around with a pry bar. I can however move the steer box sector shaft upwards about an 1/8. I've adjusted the screw but it didn't do anything. Could it be the steer box or the springs? I've even mounted a GoPro underneath but everything moves and I can't tell why it is.
View 14 Replies
Every once in a while, while driving my 06 350 SRW at slow speeds, I hear a grinding noise coming from the left side of the truck. It is almost like a winding grinding noise if that makes sense. It will grind slow to a stop, and then I hear a clunk.
This is a very intermittent problem. The tires are completely shot on the truck, and I thought that would be it, but considering it is intermittent and the clunk I hear as I come to a stop I figured it could be it.
View 4 Replies
So the other day i opened the door and heard a super loud clunk noise come from the door and when I turned the car on and pulled hte window down it wouldn't go down all the way, only about 75% of the way so I assumed like BMW cars the window motor died but oddly it continued to go up and down just now 100% down.
Then 3 days later when I came to drive the car again the window went down to the 75% mark and now its jammed there with no movement even if I tried to lift the window up myself. Usually a broken motor allows this to happen but since it isn't budging I am wondering if its an electrical issue with the power window button more than the motor?
I say this because when i try to lower the passenger window from the driver side it works than out of no where on the 3rd time it wont move at all than 5 minutes later it will move or if it doesn't move I just go and pull the window down from the passenger side then I come to the driver side and try it and it works again than it'll stop again. So maybe its the power window control buttons on the drivers side that's failing?
View 2 Replies
So my '99 F350 4x4 is making a clunking sound and there is a distinct jolt in the truck while this is occurring.
Symptoms: From a stop while accelerating, there is a distinct jolt and clunk. The best way I can describe the feeling is like something isn't tightened down all the way so there is a split second while inertia is generated and the "looseness" catches up to the acceleration.
When stopping, the clunk and jolt is generated when the truck comes to a complete stop. When the truck rebounds backwards a bit because of the suspension pulls it backwards after stopping, you will hear the clunk again.
I replaced the ball joints a week ago an a wheel hub bearing on the right side. I don't recall this before these repairs, but it may have been making this noise. I was more focused on the grinding from the wheel bearing so I may not have noticed the clunk and jolt then.
Where I should start looking for the problem?
View 14 Replies
2009 F350 4x4 DRW. Just replaced rod ends, drag link, sway bar bushings and end links, ball joints, and shocks. I have a clunk when the axle travels downward on bumps. The only thing I see is that the tie rod assembly will rotate easily by hand and I can make it clunk when I rotate it. It does not rotate in the ends, the ends rotate with it. Thinking this may be flopping around over a bump. Does tie rod rotate easily?
View 14 Replies
When I am driving and hit a bump in the road, especially when the rear tires contact it square. I hear a clunk at the rear end. Sounds like suspension, loose tailgate...
My truck is a 2016 F250 Crew Cab Short Bed. It has a factory installed fifth wheel hitch. I have looked at the obvious, spare tire, loose bolts... I removed the tailgate and it still makes the sound. I removed the insert in the receiver, still makes the sound. No goose neck ball in fifth wheel hitch. Checked bed bolts. Cant find it. Drives me crazy.
I also have a 2008, exact same truck, 200,000 miles, no clunking. I have driven in my friends 2014 F350 Crew Cab Long Bed, it clunks. Dealer pulled a new truck off the lot today, took a drive, it clunks. Dealer can't find it and confirms there is a clunk.
View 14 Replies
The last couple of weeks a new clunk has appeared on my F350, 6.2 CC LB FX4. If I've been parked for a while, when I drive off, within the first 30 yards or so there's a clunk. Seems worse when I've turned sharply out of a parking spot. Sounds like the rear diff or drivetrain... I have a locking rear diff. Is this engaged or disengaged while "at rest"? Could it be that its slow to unlock when I start?
View 13 Replies
I have an 08 F-250 CC SB 4x4 Diesel truck that has since new clunked when starting out from a stop and/or coming to a stop. I have 16k on it now and am getting really tired of dealing with it... The clunk starting is when I let off the brake and just apply the throttle. It feels like something slips and then clunk.
The clunk when stopping is the same as starting, except when coming to a stop.This is unloaded or when loaded w/ cargo and/or trailers. I know I can go to the dealer, but I don't want to un-spartan my truck for this...
View 14 Replies
I have a 2002 F-250 7.3 Powerstroke 4x4. My truck has developed a "clunk" for lack of a better term when accelerating from a dead stop. It is not a shudder as it only happens once within a few seconds of depressing the accelerator and then goes away until the next time I stop moving.
It feels like either something in the drivetrain is not engaging right away, or something is releasing, like a stuck caliper or something. From the way it feels and what I've read so far about the TC/Trans, I'm assuming it is something worn in the drive-shaft/rear diff.
But it needs brakes badly (already have all new rotors & pads ready to install) so maybe a caliper is sticking when depressed and then popping loose under initial acceleration? I think this is unlikely but possible.
View 12 Replies
Just moved into the 250 from years of 150's. Now have 98 miles and read that the tran would have noise but normal while breaking in.
whats normal, not used to this much Clunk while changing from P to D ect. More noise than used too I guess.
3.73 gears
2014 F250, 6.2 gas 2wd....
View 8 Replies
When I turned it on for a second, last winter, I rem hearing a clunk, and then another clunk when I turned it off. Made sense to me.. So, I figured I'd just activate it again now, and roll up and down the driveway once to exercise it. BUT, when I turned it on this time, the light came on, but no clunk when it came on, or off. I went up and down the driveway anyway, and I THINK it felt like it was ON, but I didn't make any turns, because I figured that would be bad.
Any one that is silent when it locks? I think I saw a post where everyone said it's supposed to clunk on/off. Could it just be the season/temps, only clunks in winter? I have a 4x2 btw, so it's just a turn switch. I hope it's not stuck or frozen somehow already..
View 8 Replies
I have a 2004 f250 with some front end troubles. When turning right once in a while it will make a hard CLUNK noise and then trying to drive down the street it drifts over to the left and I pull the wheel back to the right and when I turn the wheel it feels like I like theres something hitting somthing else in the front end. I have checked ball joints and tie rods and they are all nice and tight. Some stuff I have done that probably isn't related to my problem is shocks and sway bar end links. What this could be? Hopefully not the steering box!
View 7 Replies
Have an 06 F250. When I slow down to make a turn then accelerate it's like the drive shaft spins half a turn before it catches. Been doing it for awhile now. Now I'm get a clunk when I come to a complete stop. When you stop then truck settles there is a little clunk. Does this sound like the slip yoke problem?
View 1 Replies
I have a 2001 F250 7.3 with 175K.
Here is the situation. There is a disturbing clunk when I take my foot off the accelerator and a corresponding clunk when I push back down on the accelerator. This only occurs when the vehicle is not under load. That is, it does not happen when going up hill or on any sort of an incline. It does not happen when the automatic transmission shifts. It does not happen shifting into reverse or drive.
It does not happen when starting or stopping. It only happens when I am at 40-60, or so, miles an hour and let off the accelerator and/or press the accelerator again. It appears that I can carefully feather the accelerator to eliminate or, at least, minimize the clunk. I have crawled under the truck and it looks like all the U-joints are tight, I have lubricated the slip-yoke (although when twisted there is, like a mm of play when this is twisted, not much but a very little).
The rear-differential pinion appears to be tight (no side-to-side play or up-and-down play, or at least I can't make it move with my hands). However, when the truck is in neutral the entire driveshaft is able to rotate a half inch, or so, all the way up and down the drive train. That is, the transfer case and the rear differential appear to have a little rotational play in them, but I am guessing this is pretty normal. When in park the entire driveline seems solid.
I have seen from some of the other posts that this sort of clunking can come from leaf springs, hangers and such but since this clunk seems so isolated to acceleration changes when the vehicle is not under load, I doesn't seem like this would be the issue. No clunk when shifting, turning, bumps etc. Everything seems perfect until I am on a gentle downhill or flat and let off the accelerator. Doesn't appear to clunk when going down a steeper decline. All this gets me to thinking that the clunk is caused whenever the driveshaft rotation gets ahead of or behind the rotation in the rear differential.
View 14 Replies