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Ford ranger chassis problems
It's not only hard to diagnose from afar it's hard to diagnose right here! The worst thing is that I can't MAKE it happen. It comes and goes. Sometimes it happens a few times a day but I've had it go a couple of months without hearing it at all. These are all good suggestions. Since I drive on dirt roads all the time the bottom of the truck is pretty filthy so I can't really see anything through the layer of dirt. Pressure washing and going over the entire suspension with a bright shop light is probably the best first step. The tip on coil springs not being seated properly is a good one, and easy to check. The groan is probably in the front end - it actually sounds like it comes from under the driver so maybe it's engine or tranny mounts.
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Ford ranger chassis problems
I had a vibration in my F150 at a specific speed. Myself, a flock of mechanics dealer and otherwise and even friends of mechanics couldn't track it down.
The dealer service manager finally took a ride with me. Took him about 10 seconds after we hit the vibration to say 'drive-shaft, that's the only thing it could be' and he was right. Don't know what that says about the techs that worked for him though. It proved to be a time that dealer shop rates were worth every penny.
Since it's a warranty issue I'd sure document that occurred under warranty and would spend more time getting satisfaction from the dealer than trying to figure it out myself. A drive out to your place by someone who really knows their stuff doesn't seem unreasonable at least to me.
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Ford ranger chassis problems
I am wondering about the lower front arm links as Kens description is typical of the type of noise they make and the way it happens.
My current Volvo, initially would only make the noise after turning right on an incline comming out of the drive way and then the first left turn as we headed down the road.
The older 74 Volvo I replaced both lower links over time and the first made the metally moan on some stops. As the second one when it only made a sound as I released the brakes. I had to take the first to the resident expert in old Volvos Ed Schramm in Walley B.C. to figure out what this strange sound was.
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Ford ranger chassis problems
The problem is fully documented - I've reported it to two different dealers at least six times during service calls and the response is always that they couldn't hear it. And on the days those service calls took place the truck wasn't doing it. Then, when I picked the truck up, the noise would always resume. Very frustrating.
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Ford ranger chassis problems
Ken if it is the lower ball joints then the noise in my finding is sparatic. Like I said the 940 Volvo requires you to turn right and stop to force the link into the slack position and then pops the next time you turn left. You never heard it other than that.
I would try backing up and turning in either direction and stopping hard. Then trying the same while travelling forward.
You need to cock the rifle before you can drop the pin. It took a lot of analysis on the 940 until I determine what it was and could make it repeat and this is someone that has seen it a few times before.
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Ford ranger chassis problems
The dealer may have found a fix for this problem, and if so it's a weird one (to me at least). I discovered that this troublesome chassis noise happened frequently for the first few minutes after starting out on a cold day. So Monday night I parked the truck in the dealers lot, and on Tuesday morning I went to the dealer to demonstrate the noise. Voila - we could actually reproduce it! The dealer had an experienced mechanic who said he thought it was the clutch pilot bearing. They used a "chassis ear" (whatever that is) to narrow it down to the clutch area. They replaced the clutch pilot bearing, disk, pressure plate, and throwout bearing and the noise seems to have disappeared! If i don't hear it again in the next month or so I'd say it's cured. An interesting problem, at least to me.
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Ford ranger chassis problems
I'm not trying to scare you, but I'd be really persistent with your dealer till the problem is solved. Little noises can cost lots of $ to fix sometimes.
I have a '99 Mazda B3000 (a Ranger in disguise). My problem started as a weird intermittent clunk noise. It was really infrequent and it would seem to be worst when I did a rapid change in speed. Turns out some steel pin inside the rear gearbox sheared off mysterously, trashing the gears and costimg me $1300. I made the mistake of waiting months for the noise to become more frequent, and I think this is why the gearbox became un-rebuildable.
I don't think my problem is the source of your noise, but I feel they should find and fix the problem now.
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Ford ranger chassis problems
This noise did appear to be the clutch pilot bearing. Since they replaced the clutch I haven't heard a peep from it. You are aware of the three rubber plugs at the top of the manual tranny aren't you? They dry out and fall out and allow oil to leak out and dirt to get in. It's best to replace them with metal expansion plugs (freeze plugs).
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Ford ranger chassis problems
Sounds logical Ken. I have a 99' ford ranger with 90 k on it & it is as quiet as a mouse, But it has an auto tranny in it. I even tried taking left & right turns on incline's after I read your pole. Nothing! Sorry  I tried for ya 
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Ford ranger chassis problems
My 98 is anything but quiet. It has more squeaks and rattles than a model T. Definitely will be my last Ford.
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10-25-2003, 18:24 
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