I have 2010 Ranger Sport 2WD 4.0l and when I turn only with the brakes applied there is alot of clunking and groaning from the front end, almost sounds like it is going to fall apart.

Had it into local Ford dealer two times and they can hear the noise but cant find the source. First time the tech said he could not confirm anything and I said that was not acceptable. Shop foreman drove it right away and said the brake pads were grabbing and sent it back into the shop to service the brakes. That seemed to work for a day i think then it came back worse.

Took it back in last Saturday and another tech drove it with me and could hear the noise, but subsequently could not find anything wrong in the front end. He checked every nut and bolt and lubricated everything he could and said he thought he got it but when i left it was still doing it with the same intensity. The second tech thinks it is suspension and not a brake issue as he feels it only does it when the front suspension is loaded.

The Ford dealer is more than willing to keep searching for the problem as they want me to leave it with them, so the shop foreman can go over it. I was wondering if anyone else has/had this problem and what was the resolution. I dont want this to turn into a year long adventure to find the issue. It took the same dealer a year and a half to fix the wipers on this truck and many parts to find out in the end it was a wire shorting out on the emergency brake under the dash!

Any insight and suggestions i can pass on to the dealer would be appreciated as it goes in this week to them for the 3rd time

Thanks in advance

 

insight, start learning mechanics. saves you weeks of headaches and money lol.

i have the same issue

ive deemed it to be my brake pads for one main reason. it only groans while your brakes are applied. put the truck in neutral or turn slowly without your foot on the brake, say in neutral, and the noise should go away.

sticky pads i cant understand, although mine are original at 6 years old. only other issue is balljoints that are sticky, or tierods that are chattering as they rotate.

BUT, you said the brake service fixed it for a day. THAT RIGHT THERE, tells me its the pads. they sand your pads down and that will take off whatever is causing them to chatter. after driving the issue comes back by using the brakes.

now my suggestion is put on some ceramic pads, not fords metalic ones. i learned to ignore it personally, as im not doing my brakes for a few months. if its bugging you enough though, change your pads out with a different type.

 

I realize its a newer ranger, but have you or the mech checked the rotors and their 'plane'

they could be warped ever so slightly and slapping your pads around and those pads are extremely dense, and the slightest pad movement will be felt. just a suggestion

 

when i bought my ranger i got the maintenance plan through ford which when combined with the warranty covers everything except belts and hoses. i will be calling the dealer monday and if they think it could be the brakes i will see if they will replace them even though i am not due for a brake job and see if they will upgrade to a better brake pad.

i never thought about a slight warp in the rotors but that could contribute to the issue too. i use the ranger to pull a 4000lb travel trailer in the summer months so the brakes will get a workout 5 or 6 times this summer. pulled it 3 times last year no issues with braking performance and plenty of power to get up hills.

Thanks for the input i will post what i find out this week.

 

couldnt br warping, my rotors are brand new and properly bedded in.

 

I have an 02 with the same issue. Feels like the front suspension is "loose" and wants to fall apart.
But 2 shops and the Ford dealer cannot find anything wrong with it.
I will be going through my suspension next week with new ball joints and bushings. Everything else on the front end has been replaced already.

 

Mine had this issue. All it was for me was the rotor wobble of death. -.- I just tighened the nut a little and it was problem solved! But i think ford probably looked at most of that stuff. Good luck man!

 

Possibly your sway bar bushings and or the end links. Could also be a brake pad with the wrong tolerance and is moving in the guide.

Upper ball joint worn to one side, a lot of people make this mistake by not pulling the top of the tire OUT toward you as they shake the front end.

Otherwise get tools and go through everything yourself get all the nuts and bolts that you can with out having to remove items suspension related or anything really. Upper control arms, lower control arms, shocks on the lower mount, check your swaybar bolts and endlinks check your brake calipers SLIDES for grease, and check the caliper bolts and Caliper bridge bolts. If it were a wheel bearing then ford had better be installing new races and bearings. So i dont think it is a bearing, your ABS would have let you know too.