E-350 Front-End Noise

[W4LTD]

This past October, I began driving a 2006 Ford E-350 Super Duty which sat in the motor-pool garage for the past three years. I received it with 7,800 miles and now I've approached 30,000 and noticed a rattling noise whenever I hit a bump or pothole. I put in a service requisition and brought it in today to the garage to have them look at it. We have some seriously good mechanics, and I took one for a ride to demonstrate the issue. I was successful in reproducing it (How often does that happen?) and the mechanic was able to replace a tie-rod bushing which was causing the rattling. After driving home tonight, the rattle started again. I drove primarily I-95 and don't remember hitting any major bumps and/or potholes, nor did I jump any medians or curbs ;) (I don't drive this van like the Crown Vics or Impalas :P) -- but the noise is back, not quite as loud, but noticeable.

Could it be something else other than the tie-rod bushing? Any suggestions would be helpful so that I can bring them to the mechanic...

:beer:

[scruff]

check the brake calipers they are prone to makeing that noise otherwise it sounds like ball joints probally uppers

[W4LTD]

OK, I will mention the ball joints to the head mechanic tomorrow.

Could these get loose with such low mileage? :confused:

[Spectragod]

Ball joints, these things will wear them out. You can screw a zirk fitting into them though, and extend their life. They come pre-threaded and plugged from the factory, guess that 7 cents per ball joint was just too much.

[scruff]

yes theres no way to grease them OEM ones i always replaced them with MOOG ones if the price is right grease fit em
Heres a test for ya next time your crusing down the hwy and you hear the rattle apply your brakes ever so gently and see if the rattle goes away then release them if rattle persits you have some brake problems at the least! if not you need a front end rebuilt i think you mentioned that this van was sitting for a few years idle that is the worst thing you can do to a vehicle everything gets dried out or rusted out

[W4LTD]

yes theres no way to grease them OEM ones i always replaced them with MOOG ones if the price is right grease fit em
Heres a test for ya next time your crusing down the hwy and you hear the rattle apply your brakes ever so gently and see if the rattle goes away then release them if rattle persits you have some brake problems at the least! if not you need a front end rebuilt i think you mentioned that this van was sitting for a few years idle that is the worst thing you can do to a vehicle everything gets dried out or rusted out

Thank you for the information. The county purchased about 40 of these vans in 2006 and only used a few initially. So, over the past 3 years, they've been slowly putting them into service and I got mine in October. I will try applying the brakes and see if that routine will alleviate the rattle.

[wchain]

Sway Bar End link?

[justbob]

I've owned five F150's and one 350. Your problem sounds just like ALL of mine were and that is simply front shocks. One of the 150's turned out to be the ball joints also. When I removed the shocks they felt great, but something inside was definately not right. These trucks were all a mix of 2 wheel and 4 wheel drive.

[Spectragod]

yes theres no way to grease them OEM ones i always replaced them with MOOG ones if the price is right grease fit em
Heres a test for ya next time your crusing down the hwy and you hear the rattle apply your brakes ever so gently and see if the rattle goes away then release them if rattle persits you have some brake problems at the least! if not you need a front end rebuilt i think you mentioned that this van was sitting for a few years idle that is the worst thing you can do to a vehicle everything gets dried out or rusted out

My 05' (that I personally own) as well as others that I have worked on, have threaded holes on the tops of the ball joints for zirk fittings, pull the plugs out and screw in the zirk fittings.... OEM.

[chader]

sway bar end link?
+2.........

[scruff]

My 05' (that I personally own) as well as others that I have worked on, have threaded holes on the tops of the ball joints for zirk fittings, pull the plugs out and screw in the zirk fittings.... OEM.
well ive owned 2 f150 both early 90,s models and they did,nt have greasable ball joints when new just the factory grease packed junk ones :beatnik:

[Spectragod]

well ive owned 2 f150 both early 90,s models and they did,nt have greasable ball joints when new just the factory grease packed junk ones :beatnik:

First.... E150's are not F150's

Second, things have changed since the 90's, some things actually for the good.

[guspech750]

I dont have an answer, but I remember my company F250's from the 1990's use to make that noise. God I hated those trucks.

[W4LTD]

Thanks for the many replies. I am going to bring it in on Monday and suggest they check the brake calipers, ball joints and sway-bay end links. Nothing, performance related, has been affected by this clunking/rattling, so I don't think it's in an "unsafe" condition to drive. I hope I am correct in this assumption... :confused: