Incessant Clunking from Rear Suspension

[dafuture]

I ended up purchasing a set of strap on Sound Sensors that transmit sound via wireless ink. I then went out on the road and listened. That is what finally zeroed in on the strut itself. Then I replaced it and the clunking went away. But it did kick my butt for weeks.

You wouldn't happen to have a link would you?

I ordered a spare shock as a backup (returnable). Ordered new hardware too just to cross my T's and dot my I's. Wondering if the shop that put them in re-used the old hardware (with that being the culprit).

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[Gros Ventre]

You wouldn't happen to have a link would you?

I ordered a spare shock as a backup (returnable). Ordered new hardware too just to cross my T's and dot my I's. Wondering if the shop that put them in re-used the old hardware (with that being the culprit).

I'll go look. That was years ago on an Escape Hybrid I have. I'll look around the internet.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

I would be curious to hear what you find. I think it is more common than we think. Mine is a 22 PowerBosst and does it as well. I just gave up looking.

Hi there! Will you send us a message with your VIN and your local Ford dealer? I can look into things on my end.

 

[dafuture]

Re-tightened the spare tire, don’t think that was the issue. Didn’t see any leaking from the shock either. I tried using a rubber mallet to knock on a few things with no effect - didn’t hear anything like the noise I’ve hearing.

I’m going to see if a local shop can take a look and see if they see anything. Earliest I could get a dealer appointment to take a look was Jan 9, most of the other local dealers have told me they didn’t really have time to diagnose.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

So you didn’t change the shocks?

 

[dafuture]

So you didn’t change the shocks?

That’s next on my list. Was waiting on new hardware to be delivered before I had a mechanic poke around (figured they’d change the shock out anyway) but first dealer I ordered from took 2 days and cancelled my order. New order is due in tomorrow

 

[dafuture]

Begged my local Ford dealer to take another look today without an appointment. Their verdict was bad left rear shock. New one going in tomorrow, will report back.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Glad to see a diagnosis …… hope they get you sorted out

 

[Popplemer]

Begged my local Ford dealer to take another look today without an appointment. Their verdict was bad left rear shock. New one going in tomorrow, will report back.

I have a similar noise. Rear left, not clunky but hollow. Nothing going over bumps just when the truck is off kilter and moving. I can hear it if I push my bed rack, shaking the truck left to right so I'm hoping I can get under it and have a buddy help me figure out exactly what it is.

 

[dafuture]

I have a similar noise. Rear left, not clunky but hollow. Nothing going over bumps just when the truck is off kilter and moving. I can hear it if I push my bed rack, shaking the truck left to right so I'm hoping I can get under it and have a buddy help me figure out exactly what it is.

I couldn't hear mine with any bed shaking. From the research I've done, I'd start with checking the torque on the U-bolts. There's a procedure to torquing them down, but that could definitely cause a clunk.

As it turns out, a new shock solved the problem. Seems like I got a bad one from the factory, but I'm in good shape now.

 

[Flounder]

Pardon me for resurrecting this thread. I posted this in the 2024 quality control thread, but it sounds like I am closer to your issue.

6,000 miles. When I hit a bump, or leave a surface unevenly (e.g., driveway to roadway, where one wheel lands then the other), I get a thunk or rattle (think of the sound a hammer makes sliding or tumbling in an otherwise empty plastic tool box -- something like a thud or thump, muffled yet amplified by the space) that sounds like it comes from the rear passenger area, behind the rear sound material, but it does not (I rode with the seats down and it more likely is outside reverberating inside). It also occurs if I hit a bump with only one side of the vehicle, like a repaired pot hole, or any road that has the equivalent of a washboard surface. A muffled thunk thunk until the road smooths or evens out. I have removed everything, made sure the rear window motor clears sufficiently, removed (and tightened) the jack, etc. I just can't find it.

Do these things get noisy body mounts/bushings? When I rock the truck by pulling on a oh-sh!t handle from the inside, the suspension does not make the noise, so that is why I am leaning toward a body issue -- unless I am not compressing it enough. I am not beyond getting the kids in the bed and playing House of Pain until their jumping gets enough compression.

 

[Popplemer]

Pardon me for resurrecting this thread. I posted this in the 2024 quality control thread, but it sounds like I am closer to your issue.

6,000 miles. When I hit a bump, or leave a surface unevenly (e.g., driveway to roadway, where one wheel lands then the other), I get a thunk or rattle (think of the sound a hammer makes sliding or tumbling in an otherwise empty plastic tool box -- something like a thud or thump, muffled yet amplified by the space) that sounds like it comes from the rear passenger area, behind the rear sound material, but it does not (I rode with the seats down and it more likely is outside reverberating inside). It also occurs if I hit a bump with only one side of the vehicle, like a repaired pot hole, or any road that has the equivalent of a washboard surface. A muffled thunk thunk until the road smooths or evens out. I have removed everything, made sure the rear window motor clears sufficiently, removed (and tightened) the jack, etc. I just can't find it.

Do these things get noisy body mounts/bushings? When I rock the truck by pulling on a oh-sh!t handle from the inside, the suspension does not make the noise, so that is why I am leaning toward a body issue -- unless I am not compressing it enough. I am not beyond getting the kids in the bed and playing House of Pain until their jumping gets enough compression.

I get this noise but in the front. Very annoying.

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