Front end clunk on bumps HELP

[Super Werty]

Well I can't believe it but it was the nut holding the sway bar to the end link. It was tight but turned one half turn more. Sound is gone now. Thanks for the help guys. Hard to believe it made that much noise but oh well it's fixed now so I'm happy lol

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[redline727]

Well I can't believe it but it was the nut holding the sway bar to the end link. It was tight but turned one half turn more. Sound is gone now. Thanks for the help guys. Hard to believe it made that much noise but oh well it's fixed now so I'm happy lol

No problem, I see this a ton at work. Everyone always tends to go straight for the strut or strut mount. But those end links can get loud AF when they're going bad or loose.

 

[gtmiller1001]

Glad you got it fixed. I noticed something in the ford manual that isn't in alot of the spring install instructions regarding the sway bar end links...

Basically if you break the nut loose the threaded part will begin to turn, so you have to hold the hex head of the threaded part while loosening the nut, same when putting back together. Well that threaded part is a direct extension of the ball joint inside the rubber boot on the link. I figured since it turned freely the easier thing to do is hold the nut steady with a wrench and just use a socket wrench to turn the hex head of the threaded part as this makes the job way faster and easier.

Well, when reading the ford manual about sway bar end links it says NOT to turn that part and only hold it as backup to loosen/tighten the nut b/c the ball joint has a "low break away torque"....oops! Same reason the ford manual also says not to use impact tools to remove or install those nuts.

I called Kelly at BMR regarding this and asked if maybe I should go ahead and replace my end links (they're only like $10 each from Ford). He said if there are no noises they're probably fine but if I turned the threaded part (and by default the ball joint too) that they are likely prematurely worn.

Just thought I'd share for anyone else doing springs or removing/installing those end links...I'm surprised most of the spring install manuals don't mention this.

 

[stormtrooper]

Mine doesnt do it all the time. But there is deff clunking for me too. Only have the Sportlines installed.

 

[SVTFreak]

If you tightened the strut but without holding the hex part, it's not tightened properly.

Mine started making a clunking that got worse over a couple weeks. Started out only on big bumps and got to where it was rattling over even expansion joints. Ended up being strut top bearing plate. They ordered a whole new strut, replaced and aligned the car in about an hour and a half (took 2 days to come in) and back to perfect now.

 

[K-Roll302]

Sorry for bumping the old thread. Was your sway bar endlink nut torqued to spec? (85 ft lbs) Mine's torqued properly but I was wondering if they need more force one them like you turned yours more than it was.

Are you using the stock endlinks or another brand? The best way to know for sure if they're the cause is to get underneath, disconnect the links from the swaybar (or just remove them entirely) and drive the same roads you've heard the noise. That's how I discovered mine were bad yesterday. Ordered a set of Steeda Adjustables last night too.

 

[K-Roll302]

Damn. I never knew the car is drivable without the endlinks attached. I’m running the stock ones and will definitely try this method!

The bar won't go anywhere, and I'm running mine as such until the new set comes in. The front feels a bit more loose with the bar disconnected, but it could be my mind playing tricks on me, hard to say.

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