Hey everyone,

97 F-150 EC 4x4 . . . hearing and almost feeling a strange sort of "popping" noise whenever I go through or over a large elevation change in the road. Okay elevation change sounds weird, but I mean a large dip in the road as opposed to a bump or pot hole. Basically something where the whole truck is moving. The noise seems to be coming from the drivers side near where the box joins the cab.

I was thinking that maybe some ice is just built up somewhere back there, maybe in the leafs, but it's sort of weird sounding. I can't replicate it by bouncing on the bumper and/or pushing on the box area by hand. Maybe just something flexing?

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

 

Dont' really know. Have you changed your shocks???

 

Here are two suggestions.

Check your ball joints. Specifically the uppers. If the upper control arm has TRW stamped on it, double check it or replace.

Undo your torsion bars and remove the rear adjuster thingy. Then apply some chassis grease to both hexagonal ends of the torsion bar and put a thick coating of grease on the top half (and sides) of the rear adjuster thingy. My adjuster thingy seemed to be knocking on the crossmember.

I hope this helps...good luck.

 

Thanks for the repy The Saint, I'll check it out. TX-FX-4, I actually just had my shocks changes this past fall and they still seem good.

It is supposed to warm up here a bit as well so maybe I'll see if it is a cold thing. Given the state of the roads around here, I had assumed it was suspension related but it just seemed like a weird noise.

Thanks again!

 

A couple things to look at.

Check your sway bar links on both sides. It's possible that that the driver side is broken, and causing the noise. Easy to replace.

Possibly the lower shock mounting bolt is not tight enough? Mine loosened a while after I replaced them.

Balljoints have excessive play? Look at the top of the balljoint in the lower control arm. If it is dimpled, it's time to replace them ASAP.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the tips EsoxShep, I'll check it out.

Edit, I meant to add that the ball joints do seem okay. I also listened for the noise again today and it is definitely coming from behind the cab and not the front end.