front thunk
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Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 44
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From: Albany, GA
front thunk
Can anyone help me diagnose a thunking I am hereing my front end. I can't really explain it any better than that. It happens mostly when turn in reverse. It sounds like something is sliding back and forth but I can't seem to find it anywhere. Anyone else thunking? or am I just thunking crazy?
Thx, Berry
Thx, Berry
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,006
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From: Monrovia, CA
You got the "clunk" 
It's a bolt on the lower control arm shifting in an elongated hole (yeah there are plenty of jokes about that one), happens on most L's. There are several fixes floating about for it...star washers, Herb's washers, dealer gets the strongest tech to torque bolt down tighter, etc.
The slippage normally occurs because of the frame wax under the bolt...
It's a bolt on the lower control arm shifting in an elongated hole (yeah there are plenty of jokes about that one), happens on most L's. There are several fixes floating about for it...star washers, Herb's washers, dealer gets the strongest tech to torque bolt down tighter, etc.
The slippage normally occurs because of the frame wax under the bolt...
Last edited by DB; Aug 22, 2001 at 07:53 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,300
Likes: 0
From: Richmond, VA, USA
yep, sounds like the clunk...
two causes...
1. you're making contact with your steering stops, you can pinpoint this by determining if your noise only happens at or near full wheel lock on either side. fix this simply by applying some heavy grease to you steering stops on your knuckle and control arm.
2. your driver side lower control arm is shifting during parking manuevers because the hole in the frame saddle is slotted. this one is harder to fix. The Ford TSB probably won't fix it. (my 2001 came already "fixed" but it clunked from day 1) I did the fix again, this time removing the frame wax thoroughly before installing the "toothed" washers. may have reduced the frequency of the problem, but still there. So now you have two options that I can think of... either spot weld your washers to your control arm (not as cheesy as it sounds) or buy some Herb's Washers for $50.00.
hope this helps.
later,
chris
1. you're making contact with your steering stops, you can pinpoint this by determining if your noise only happens at or near full wheel lock on either side. fix this simply by applying some heavy grease to you steering stops on your knuckle and control arm.
2. your driver side lower control arm is shifting during parking manuevers because the hole in the frame saddle is slotted. this one is harder to fix. The Ford TSB probably won't fix it. (my 2001 came already "fixed" but it clunked from day 1) I did the fix again, this time removing the frame wax thoroughly before installing the "toothed" washers. may have reduced the frequency of the problem, but still there. So now you have two options that I can think of... either spot weld your washers to your control arm (not as cheesy as it sounds) or buy some Herb's Washers for $50.00.
hope this helps.
later,
chris
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,303
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From: Chesapeake, VA USA
Grease your steering stops. They are on the back of the lower A-arm and are pellet shaped. They are the objects in the rectangle on the attached photo and the oval circle is where they contact.