I installed a 2" AS Leveling Kit, got new tires put on, and had the alignment done today on my 2006 Screw 4x4. I'm now getting a clunking sound from the front driver's side of the truck, I imagine due to the leveler. I hear it the most when going slowly over bumps or pulling into my driveway, etc.

Does anyone have any idea what it might be? I have checked the bolts, especially the link connecting the sway bar to the lower control arm and everything looks okay. I also had the tire shop check the main bolt that connects the strut to the lower control arm and it was tight. It is already driving me crazy!!! Any help is greatly appreciated.

Steve

 

When does it "clunk"? When turning, accelerating, braking...?

I've got the 2" AS on mine and no noise, so something is up.

- NCSU

 

When mine clunked it did it going around corners, and turned out to be the sway bar endlinks where they connect to the lower A arms. It may look tight, but re-torque it.

 

It clunks when I go over a bump in road, speed bump, pulling into my driveway, etc.

 

I also have a 2" AS kit and have no noise. I would think maybe the bolts on the strut to the spacer or spacer bolts to the strut tower. When you put the sway bar end link back on did you put the bushings on right? The only other thing that I coan think of is the upper ball joint is not tight.....

 

Fixed it!

Well I figured something needed to be tightened...ended up being the lower bolt on the link that attaches the lower control arm to the sway bar. Sound is gone and the truck is handling better. Thanks for everyones help!

 

Can you post a pic of the bolt?

 

This is really common, for a LOT of vehicles.
Sway bar endlinks can be deceiving when they look/feel tight. But they REALLY need to be torqued down to eliminate noise.

Glad you found your problem!

 

what is torque spec?

 

I don't have a great picture of the bolt that was causing the problem and someone is borrowing the truck right now (of course...). You can see the link from the LCA to the sway bar in this picture though. The bolt that I needed to tighten was at the end of the bottom of that link, under the LCA. Not sure what the torque spec is on the one, but the one on the top of the link (which is taken off in the picture) is 35 ft. lb. Hope this helps.

 

Looks like a similar setup to the rangers/explorers, basically a long bolt with bushings, a spacer, and a nut on the other end. They wear out quick too. Not sure of the torque specs but, like I said, I find that I have to crank them down pretty hard to keep them quiet anyway.

 

Per the AS installation instructions

12. Reconnect the lower sway bar end link. Torque to 35 ft. lbs.

 

Did you happen to loosen that lower bolt when doing the install?

 

That's how I did mine, loosened and removed the lower nut.

Per the AS installation instructions

12. Reconnect the lower sway bar end link. Torque to 35 ft. lbs.

 

Step 4 says to disconnect the upper sway bar endlink on the lower control arm.

http://www.autospringcorp.com/produc...Expedition.PDF