Hello,

I've been noticing with my ranger lately that everytime I turn left or do a U-Turn it makes a nasty knocking noise. I checked everything down there and all seems to be fine. The only thing it seems to point to is my torsion bar possibly being bent. All my ball joints and stuff are good to go. I did have my torsions cranked all the way up at one point in time and during some offroading I believe bar was bent. I have since lowered them back down and the truck only sits on my Spindle Lift.

Anyone know of anything else it could be? It only happens on the left side; when I turn right there's no noises at all...

2002 Ford Ranger Edge 3.0L V6

 

Left outer CV joint unless you're 2WD. I'm guessing that you might be since you mention a spindle lift. If 2WD, then I'd go with wheel bearings.

 

2WD.

Wheel bearings are brand new, rotors brand new, brakes brand new, ball joints good condition. Everything is strong and good condition but I still get the knockin noise only when turning left or U-TURN...

Any other ideas?

 

Does the knocking seem to be at wheel frequency or is it just random clunks?

 

Tie Rod Ends?

a left U turn or even on a right U turn?

 

Random clunks like clunk....clunk.clunk....clunkclunk....clunk....... .....clunk....

It will keep making random clunks on the left side until I straighten the wheel back to even or complete my turn.

Right hand turns are completely fine with no noises. :(

I've been trying to figure out this issue with my truck for the past year...

 

I would look at these:

Jack up and test for loose wheel bearings even though they have recently been replaced.

While you're at, check the ball joints again using a pry bar. The torsion bars can apply enough load to them at full rebound that they may seem OK even when they're loose.

Make sure that the spindle pinch bolt is clamping the spindle tightly onto the upper ball joint shaft.

See if the torsion bar has been contacting the lower control arm where it passes through the hole in the rear leg (it shouldn't).

 

I was getting this knocking noise prior to changing my wheel bearings so I know it's not those for sure.

When I checked the ball joints I used a pry bar and nothing moved at all. Nothing seemed loose or unsecure.

Is the spindle pinch bolt the one directly on top? I'm not too auto savy so please bear with me, I learn as I go :]

I will check the torsion bar when I get home and see if it's comming in contact with the LCA or not. Thanks for your feedback rwenzing! I will follow up with you shortly.

 

Mine does this as well. The worst is when I'm in reverse turning left. But it also does it when turning left. My torsion bar hits the LCA, but I'm still not sure if thats the cause of it. It's not only annoying, but I feel like somethings going to break :(

I'm goign to do the ruitine test of everything when I get time this weekend. I"ll keep you updated.

 

I'd say steering stops. I highly doubt you bent a torsion bar, but if you really fell you did...I've got 2 extra sets you can try and put on.

 

last year I hydroplaned/slid pretty bad in my truck, didn't hit anything,just went back and forth on the road, but the wheel went all the way to the left and right with a good bit of force, I've noticed mine only clicks when I turn it all the way to either side, thats just normal right?

 

That's exactly how I feel. When I had my glass put on a few months ago the guy told me it was a bent torsion bar for sure because he checked everything else and that's what it was pointing too. When I drive around I feel like somethings gonna break off and I'm gonna roll lol Nothing has happened yet and a buddy of mine said it's really nothing to worry about but I want to get this fixed, tired of putting it off.

If it's indeed a torsion bar then I want to get a new one to replace it with and see if that solves the problem. I know I have steering stops built in to my spindle so that isn't the issue. The thing is also, I didn't really fall or mobb my **** hard. I went offroading about a year ago and have had this clunk ever since. No one has been able to diagnose it but I know we are getting close.

I noticed your local to me in Brea, maybe we can meet up and take a look at it and see if it really is the torsion. If it is I wouldn't mind buying a straight one off you and installing it. My AIM - BallzofBrass & I'll try to contact you when I get off of work :]

Thanks again everybody! This forum rocks.

 

I replaced my tbars a while ago, it's been there ever since I can remember. I've replaced all my ball joints except the left lower, which is leading me to believe its the left lower. I'm not sure though.

I belive the tbar is hitting the LCA, I actually had to grind my LCA a bit just to quiet the noise down. I was thinking about bending my tbar myself so it didn't make the noise anymore. I really need to just replace my lower controal arm, I think it's bent. (this is after my diagnosis of looking and jacking the truck up)

 

Yeah in that case if you already replaced your tbars, then I think your only other bet would be to change the LCA or grind it. If I can find it where it's hitting on mine I'll grind the SOB.

Such a pain in the ****. :(

 

You needed to grind the LCA before installing the spindle so that could be the issue

as far as the steering stops, sometimes they will hit the stop and not want to move smoothly. I had to put a little grease on the stops at it fixed the problem for me.

 

It's been grinded, I had the spindles put on in a shop.

So I should try putting some grease on the steering stops? Why would it only make noise on 1 side and not the other? :(

This is so confusing. :(

 

no one mentioned the sway bar? couldnt there be a bad end link or sway bar bushing? what about an inner tie rod? rack bushings?

 

*bump*

Any thoughts?

 

mine was doin that i went through everything and it was fine, so i took it to a shop they said every thing was fine yet it still did it. i rotated my tires it went away it made no sense to me i guess it was a out of round tire

 

OK , Here's a SWAG . Do you have a locker or a limited slip rear ? Could this be a clutch pack in the axle not releasing properly and transmitting the 'clunk' to the front end ?
I have had cars in the past where a bad tire on the rear would make the steering wheel shake.

 

I just replaced the rack and pinon so I don't think it's the rack. So the only other thing it could be is the inner tie rod or the sway bar link?

 

No locker or limited slip that I know of. It's basically stock with spindles... it's also an automatic unless your talking about a differ clutch.

Any ideas?

 

Just went outside and sat in it and had someone rock it and sure enough I hear the clunk clunk clunk.... Also got out of the truck with no one in it and rocked it back and forth and sure enough clunk clunk clunk.

Next step, get sway bar and all bushing checked out?

You guys are the shi*!