Hi guys...

Well, i've only had my Ranger a month & welcome to issue number one lol. A couple weeks ago, I noticed a slight clunk when turning my wheel sharply out of my apartment building. Wasn't sure what it was, and didn't really sweat it.

Fast forward to today, and now it's happening on both sides prominently on slow sharp turns. I did notice the TSB about the clunk and the inner tie rod ends needing replacing. Fair enough. Called ford today & they stated that they change them out with the same part for $380 (socal prices ). The same part ? Why would I toss the same part on if there is an issue already ?

My question is, does it sound like the inner tie rod ends ? Some claimed it was the intermediate shaft on the steering, but i'm not feeling it there. On slowly turning, wheel fully cocked, I get a good clunk out of it, on either side, and it definitely is coming from the shock area. Can't repeat by myself as the truck needs to be moving to do it.

Have an appointment @ 4 wheel parts on saturday for general maintenance and inspection of my fabtech lift, and will ask them about it, but wanted to ask you guys first...

Thanx
David

Oh yeah, it's a 2007 XLT with a 3" fabtech spindle lift in the front.

 

Hmmmm, clunks in the front are commonly caused by sway bar links. Check em out. Maybe one is busted or strained by the lift. Might need to make some bigger ones.

Could be ties, take off the wheel and disconnect the ties from the spindle, push it and pull it out. Does it make the sound?

While you have the tie disconnected, rotate the spindle back and forth full clock both ways, the lift sindles are known to hit the lower control arm. That could be causing it.

 

Thanx for the reply...

The lower caliper bolt is definitely hitting the Fabtech steering stop, as there is a "groove" in the stop which could be causing it.

The sway bar looks ok but i'm not expert at all on this stuff. Darkness is setting in now and dont have time to pull the wheels, and plus, it's a ***** where I live.

Driving, and turning on the road is no problem at all, rides smooth as glass. It's just the morning leaving for work, hard turn either way, or after work, & certainly when trying to park in tight spots, that is when it is most prominent, a definitive loud creak/clunk, on both sides.

I just find it hard to believe that both tie rods went out at the same time, don't you ?

Guess i'll just let 4 Wheel Parts do there inspection and see whats what. I contacted the guy and girl I bought from and they feel bad about it. They still have the warranty on the lift as it's not transferable to new owner & even offered to take it in for me, but live way too far away. Nice of them though...

Caveat Emptor. Let the buyer beware. Hopefully it's nothing, but when it comes to my ride, it has to be tip top.

Thanx
David

 

Naww it's probably just the caliper bolt hitting the steering stops.

 

I'm hoping brother. One thing I forgot was that my friends who I bought it from, got it aligned @ Firestone the day they delivered, as they had unlimited alignments and hooked me up. Maybe the LCA bolts werent retightnened to specs? Who knows. Looking at ever angle...

 

before you do anything and start replacing crap, check for play in the wheels with the truck jacked up in the air because you can't diagnose anything with a noise.
my upper ball joints did that when they leaked all the grease out. check your shocks too.

do the inner tie rods yourself if you need to replace them. go to rockauto.com and buy motorcraft inner tie rods.

 

I discovered rock auto today actually. Wish I knew about them earlier. Funny you say motocraft. Everyone else that I have talked too eas claiming Moog were the best. I'm taking down all these ideas and will present to mechanic on Saturday. I'm not going to go out and buy anything till I hear from a pro after inspection.

Live the ideas though. All added to my word document for technician ( more for me so I don't forget )

Thanx
David

 

From a ford master tech thats on this forum, for inner tie rods, go with motorcraft. I was going to get moog inners but according to him, they don't last if you're lifted anything else moog is fine. I've got motorcraft inners and moog upper control arms with ball joints, lower ball joints, outer tie rods. all replaced a few weeks ago.

I'd hear what the mechanic has to say first, i always do if i can't figure out whats wrong but i always end up doing the work myself instead of getting raped on labor

 

Good to know on the inners, thank you very much.

Yeah, tomorrow I will know and of course post. I like to do things myself too, to learn as well as save money, but my current living situation makes it tough. Hard to work in my "melrose place" type apartment. I have to park on a grade and there is no room around to actually get situated.

Welcome to San Diego lol...

Thanx
David

 

Turns out my ball joints were only hand tool tight, not tourqed at all. This had to happen when the lift was installed initially by the previous owner by, you guessed it, 4 wheel parts. I sent an email to the store manager of the other 4 wheel parts where it was installed. I have all receipts. Let's see what they say. Taking her to girlfriends house in a few for the real test.

I will definitely grease the steering stops. I had a feeling that was part of it as well as I saw the grooves digging into the stops. I won't crank like I was anymore, that's for sure.

I appreciate the insight guys.

Thanx
David