I bought my truck about 6 months ago and here within the last month it's been making a popping noise in the front end (sounds like it coming from my front driver side tire) when I'm backing up and turning the wheels or when I'm turning the wheels all the way. I took it to the dealer and they said it was the idler arm and they greased it and it stopped for about a week. Now it's doing it again. Anybody have a clue has to what it my be?

Collin C.

 

It might be the idler arm but i think that under passenger side if i remember correctly, But since they greased it and noise stopped it might be worth going ahead an trying that first, way less expensive than ball joints could be ball joints( hope not, thats a steep bullet to bite) and you cant really grease those or the tie rods unless you replace with moog ,idler arm doesnt get greased b/c you have to drop the skid plate, replace it with Moog idler arm cost around $70-80 at an autoparts store, get a reputable front end shop or mechanic to put it on for you( maybe 1 hr labor x lbr rate) or do it yourself, get an alignment afterwards($45-60), and dont let the dealer put a ford replacement part on it, go moog( unless your under warranty then let the dealership do the labor but ask them to let you pay difference b/t ford part cost and moog part.)

When it comes time to get new u joints get the greasable kind and make sure whoever does you oil changes knows to hit the zerks w/ a little grease same goes for replacement tie rods and ball joints, get moog and make sure to grease them.

Make sure your front ends good before you spend all that money on the bigger tires, b/c they put more stress on front end components.

 

I went through the same thing. I changed the idler arm, still did it. Then i read somewhere that if the pitman arm was not tight enough it would make noise. So I tightened the crap out of it and it stopped, only to start again later. So I replaced the pitman arm and have not had a problem since. Also get moog parts, my first idler arm i had to take back because it was binding up and causing a wierd steering effect. I would take the cotter pin out and tighten it some more and see if it does anything.

 

Thanks for the help, I got the extended warranty (100K) when I bought the truck so I'll take it back to the dealer and tell them to change it and I'll pay the difference in parts cost. If it still does it, I'll keep taking it back until it's fixed.