Clunk sound from front suspension.

[FirstEdition21509]

Ohhkay, soo I have a 2021 First Edition.
I have 3k miles on it, made my first offraod endeavor last weekend with the PNW Bronco Club, went to Juniper Sand Dunes here in Washington state.
The noise was noticed when I was following the group out to the dunes over some serious washboard,whoops, I was noticing a very LOUD clunk at around 7-8mph when the rig would peak at the top of the whoops, it is so noticeable that you can feel it, along w hearing it, so I slowed down and took it easy, the rest of the broncos were long gone, they must have been doing 20mph or more over these same whoops, so I eventually caught up at the dunes and started asking people, hey does anyone have this loud clunking coming from front suspension, the reply was no from everyone except 1 person in a 22 wild track.
Now I have been able to re create the sound over speed bumps in the parking lot.
Ford put it on a lift visually inspected told me everything is fine. I checked struck mounts and bolts were to spec, checked all suspension bolts and they are to spec. Took into ford and they did a drive along and confirmed the noise. Now we took a Badlands w SAS and swaybar disconnect, and it made the same noise as mine.....someone PLEEEEEASE help me understand WTF the noise is.....it makes me cringe everything I hear it....

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[Ford Motor Company]

Ohhkay, soo I have a 2021 First Edition.
I have 3k miles on it, made my first offraod endeavor last weekend with the PNW Bronco Club, went to Juniper Sand Dunes here in Washington state.
The noise was noticed when I was following the group out to the dunes over some serious washboard,whoops, I was noticing a very LOUD clunk at around 7-8mph when the rig would peak at the top of the whoops, it is so noticeable that you can feel it, along w hearing it, so I slowed down and took it easy, the rest of the broncos were long gone, they must have been doing 20mph or more over these same whoops, so I eventually caught up at the dunes and started asking people, hey does anyone have this loud clunking coming from front suspension, the reply was no from everyone except 1 person in a 22 wild track.
Now I have been able to re create the sound over speed bumps in the parking lot.
Ford put it on a lift visually inspected told me everything is fine. I checked struck mounts and bolts were to spec, checked all suspension bolts and they are to spec. Took into ford and they did a drive along and confirmed the noise. Now we took a Badlands w SAS and swaybar disconnect, and it made the same noise as mine.....someone PLEEEEEASE help me understand WTF the noise is.....it makes me cringe everything I hear it....

Hello, Jerad! Send us a private message with your VIN and the name and location of your local Ford dealer.
I’d be happy to see what I can do to assist with this noise concern on your Bronco. Thanks!

 

[Jozef]

I have the same issue with my 2022 WildTrak. This seems to be a known issue. What should I tell the dealer.

 

[broadicustomworks]

Check to make sure the spring is not hitting the strut mount sides.
All it takes is slight rubbing, not even enough to damage paint short-term.
But you can hear and feel it.
After a couple of weeks of searching out the source, that's what I found on mine.
Apparently I unloaded it enough to allow the spring itself to twist ever so slightly and start contacting my strut tower on the rear of the passenger side front.
Paint was not damaged on the spring, but it was just enough contact on rebound to hear and feel a groan/thud.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

I have the same issue with my 2022 WildTrak. This seems to be a known issue. What should I tell the dealer.

Hi Joseph. Can you send us a DM with your VIN and dealership info? I can look into this for you.

 

[popo_patty]

Was there ever a fix to this? I have a clunking too that I can’t identify. Drooped my suspension and everything seems fine. Only notice when I’m driving. Can hear and feel the front end clunk. Seems to favor the driver side.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Was there ever a fix to this? I have a clunking too that I can’t identify. Drooped my suspension and everything seems fine. Only notice when I’m driving. Can hear and feel the front end clunk. Seems to favor the driver side.

Hey there. I can look into your Bronco’s noise concerns on my end if you’d like. Will you send us a private message with your VIN and dealership info?

 

[popo_patty]

Hey there. I can look into your Bronco’s noise concerns on my end if you’d like. Will you send us a private message with your VIN and dealership info?

Dm sent

 

[Jozef]

Was there ever a fix to this? I have a clunking too that I can’t identify. Drooped my suspension and everything seems fine. Only notice when I’m driving. Can hear and feel the front end clunk. Seems to favor the driver side.

It seems the clunk comes and goes with weight off the wheels…. when on a lift. This makes it hard to diagnosis and keeps it an intermittent problem. My clunk is gone since the last time i had it on a lift. My oil change place uses a lift and not a pit. Pretty confident the clunck will be back after my bronco is on a lift (next oil change).

 

[Tennessee Jed]

I've been experiencing this or something similar. It started when I drove over a rough patch of a gravel road - nothing major at all. Since then, a clunk comes from somewhere under the vehicle, drivers side. I've crawled all over and can't find it.

I'll also note that the clunking happens on rough road, when it's vibrated. Not so much on speed bumps.

Has anyone had success identifying and resolving this?

 

[Ph4nt0m]

I have a 2023 Wildtrak with less than 350 miles on it and I’m dealing with the same clunking issue on Passenger Front.
Most notably heard/felt on passenger front on longer right hand bends at speed or accelerating through a right hand turn.
I can only occasionally replicate the issue in 4A and it’s a bit easier to encounter in sport mode.
I hopped under the car today to wiggle some things around and almost the exact noise is found inside the housing for the front drive axle.
Dealers are closed on Sundays here so I’ll have to reach out tomorrow but I’d be curious if anyone else is hearing the noise coming from this location as well.

 

[Ph4nt0m]

Just a quick update.

I was able to confirm the noise was not coming from the drive axle. The play is apparently normal..

Was able to source this back to a slight bit of contact/rubbing on one of the mountains brackets from my sliders. Specifically where the body mount bracket attaches for my kit.

Made some tweaks there and finally got to enjoy some clunk free driving.

Anyone have frame mounted aftermarket accessories here?

 

[AlliB123]

Check to make sure the spring is not hitting the strut mount sides.
All it takes is slight rubbing, not even enough to damage paint short-term.
But you can hear and feel it.
After a couple of weeks of searching out the source, that's what I found on mine.
Apparently I unloaded it enough to allow the spring itself to twist ever so slightly and start contacting my strut tower on the rear of the passenger side front.
Paint was not damaged on the spring, but it was just enough contact on rebound to hear and feel a groan/thud.

My thud is at slow speed, like stop sign approach or just putting it into gear after reversing. Am I safe to assume my issue is not the same as this spring issue?.. because I'm not going over bumps when I get my noise. Totally flat level street.
I appreciate any ideas!

 

[AlliB123]

Just a quick update.

I was able to confirm the noise was not coming from the drive axle. The play is apparently normal..

Was able to source this back to a slight bit of contact/rubbing on one of the mountains brackets from my sliders. Specifically where the body mount bracket attaches for my kit.

Made some tweaks there and finally got to enjoy some clunk free driving.

Anyone have frame mounted aftermarket accessories here?

I have rockrail mounted steps but nothing directly frame mounted. And since my 'thud' is at really low speed, like nearly stopped, I do not think mine would be spring/lift related right?

 

[Tricky Mike]

I too have a clunk, it's very loud while offroading but bumps in the road will do it too. I'm certain it's on the left side.

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