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kmb1966's avatar
kmb1966
Explorer
Jun 10, 2017

Front-end suspension noises - what is it?

2001 Ford F53 has some front end grumbling creaking sounds. Has made these sounds for years, problem went away after CHF, but now seems to be back a little bit worse. It's not an engine sound, but a sound made when the coach barely rocks side to side. Can slightly feel it as the driver below my feet. It doesn't seem to affect driving, or handling. Just an annoying slight popping creaky sound. Looked underneath extensively and I don't see anything binding or rubbing. The front links are not rubbing against the springs. Can't see anything wrong but the sound bothers and concerns us. Have had 2 shops look at it and so far nothing found. Already have Z bracket on lower Hellwig links
Class A

9 Replies

  • jyrostng's avatar
    jyrostng
    Explorer
    Jun 13, 2017
    Mine's a 2000 F53, I thought my windshield seal was making popping noise, it turned out to be the lift up dash console. 2 small Stick-on felt furniture slides stuck to the bottom of the plastic edge fixed it. The other thing that seems to make noises on the f53 is the brake calipers and pads, the calipers get loose and the spring holding the pads loses tension causing them to rattle. touching the brake peddle causes both to quit making noise.
  • ILVMYGT's avatar
    ILVMYGT
    Explorer
    Jun 12, 2017
    We had an old Jeep Grand Wagoneer that had a similar problem. It was a loose frame rivet. Replacing the rivet with a torqued bolt solved the problem. It took a while to find the loose rivet. Just a little shiny metal where the two pieces were moving under load.
  • wilanddij's avatar
    wilanddij
    Explorer
    Jun 12, 2017
    I'm with dougrainer. Had this exact thing happen to me several years ago. A weld where the coach frame upright met the chassis on the left front let go and made the exact same sound you're describing. An RV shop diagnosed it pretty quickly by having one guy under the front chassis and another jumping up and down inside.
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Jun 11, 2017
    If you can feel it in your feet, the most obvious thing to check is the support steel bars that the OEM uses to modify and support the items they install in the front end box. If just 1 small weld has failed or they forgot, this one piece of steel can move. It moves just enough to then partially stick and when it pops loose, it makes a pop sound that you can feel in your feet. This can be either the Pass side or the drivers side, the noise/pop can easily move to the other side and sound like it is on just 1 side. I use a long, heavy duty pry bar to check every welded steel piece in the front end to find such problems. Doug
  • wildmanbaker's avatar
    wildmanbaker
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2017
    After you thoroughly check the underside you might try looking under the dash. When made, they sometimes get in a hurry and don't do a good welding job, and they break and grown and squeak when driving.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Jun 11, 2017
    Possibly a bushing. Also check the steering box is tight to the frame.
  • kmb1966's avatar
    kmb1966
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2017
    MountainAir05 wrote:
    X2 on Polyurethane Bushing.

    On the front?
  • rgatijnet1's avatar
    rgatijnet1
    Explorer III
    Jun 10, 2017
    I would guess that it is the anti-sway bar bushings that are worn out. Most people replace the old rubber bushing with polyurethane bushings. This is a DIY project.

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