Rear End Clicking

[charlesdf22]

I've had this noise since I bought the truck and have taken it to the dealership several times. It was initially that every F150 makes this noise and then it progressed to not being able to duplicate it, no problem found. It only happens when stopping or starting and is pretty intermittent.

Does anyone have any idea what this is so I can start somewhere?

22-PowerBoost Platinum w/Max Tow

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[UGADawg96]

I've had this noise since I bought the truck and .... It only happens when stopping or starting and is pretty intermittent.
22-PowerBoost Platinum w/Max Tow

Sounds like the axle bolt. Pop of the wheel covers and look.

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/looks-like-another-axle-bolt-shear….14570/

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/axle-bolt-sheared.14689/

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/another-broken-axle-bolt.19316/

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...ucks-with-trailer-tow-max-duty-package.21346/

 

[charlesdf22]

Popped them and both are intact.

 

[UGADawg96]

Paging @Snakebitten @Buyer2021 & @HammaMan for their input.

 

[Snakebitten]

That's a great video!
How did you get that?

Problem is, even as clear as the audio is, there's no way to know the direction of the sound.

If the axle bolt is intact on both sides, then I can't square the noise being from the outboard axle splines fretting to the extent to allow slip.
And again, from the video, it's impossible to distinguish whether the sound is from inside the rear differential instead?

 

[UGADawg96]

oh wait, just rewatched and can see you going up a driveway based on the angle of the bed on the right of the tire and the sound appears when the front wheels went up the driveway and the pitched changed front to rear and then again when the rears went up and the pitch changed again. Maybe something with the leaf springs or brackets ? Does it only happen when changing front to back level/angles ?

 

[charlesdf22]

That's a great video!
How did you get that?

Problem is, even as clear as the audio is, there's no way to know the direction of the sound.

If the axle bolt is intact on both sides, then I can't square the noise being from the outboard axle splines fretting to the extent to allow slip.
And again, from the video, it's impossible to distinguish whether the sound is from inside the rear differential instead?

This problem has been driving me crazy enough that I rationalized getting a new GoPro and a few mounts as well.

 

[charlesdf22]

oh wait, just rewatched and can see you going up a driveway based on the angle of the bed on the right of the tire and the sound appears when the front wheels went up the driveway and the pitched changed front to rear and then again when the rears went up and the pitch changed again. Maybe something with the leaf springs or brackets ? Does it only happen when changing front to back level/angles ?

Not really. When it does happen, it's when approaching any stop and starting. It doesn't seem to matter on the angle. I climbed up on the back and jumped up and down on each side and didn't get any clicks.

Following on @Snakebitten 's train of thought, I did have 1 axle replaced a while back, but I don't recall which one. But this has been going on since the beginning.

 

[UGADawg96]

The dealer techs need to use some chassis ears to find where the sound is coming from. That's what they used to find a bad strut mount on our 2025 Explorer.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Check driveshaft hardware?

 

[Snakebitten]

That's pronounced enough that you might be to use it similar to mechanics ears, by placing the go pro near each hub, and right on the differential, and hope for the audio to reveal which was obviously closest to the source? Easy for me to say since I'm not the one doing all the work.

That video above is like the perfect situation/circumstance? It's predictable?

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

That's pronounced enough that you might be to use it similar to mechanics ears, by placing the go pro near each hub, and right on the differential, and hope for the audio to reveal which was obviously closest to the source? Easy for me to say since I'm not the one doing all the work.

That video above is like the perfect situation/circumstance? It's predictable?

Is it just me or did it would like the noise was emanating from inside a tube?

 

[antho]

Possibly the slip yolk?

 

[charlesdf22]

Possibly the slip yolk?

This seems pretty simple to rule out. Let me order up some lube.

That's pronounced enough that you might be to use it similar to mechanics ears, by placing the go pro near each hub, and right on the differential, and hope for the audio to reveal which was obviously closest to the source? Easy for me to say since I'm not the one doing all the work.

That video above is like the perfect situation/circumstance? It's predictable?

Not predictable, but often enough that I can move the camera around and get closer.

 

[charlesdf22]

Is it just me or did it would like the noise was emanating from inside a tube?

For the longest time, I thought it was something in the passenger side axle. It's certainly more pronounced on the passenger side, but I'll know more tomorrow as I keep moving the camera around.

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