Right front heavy metal popping sound

[wiwaniuk]

Evening, guys. Sometimes when I straighten the steering wheel after turning it to the lock, I hear a loud metal pop from the right front. My '03 Excursion did it, too. To me, it sounds like a dry ball joint. Of course, I keep the front greased wherever there are zerks. Anyone seen this in their SD??

[99Smokin73Stroker]

I hear the same thing but it's very rare....maybe once every couple of weeks. I pumped all my zerks full of marine grease a couple of months back so I don't think anything is dry, but you never know!

[wesjones]

sounds like ball joints to me... do the wheels look out of camber from the front?

wes

[hancockcowboy]

hey guys, you might want to check into those tie-rod ends. that may not be the problem but it what you have described sounds like what i was going through about three months ago. i was driving through the pature and both wheels went nose out. luckily i was in pature only going obout five, not down the highway

[wiwaniuk]

Hey han****cowboy, how many miles on your truck?

[wiwaniuk]

Hey wesjones, that's kinda what I am afraid of. The front end is tight. I have never liked Ford's "minimum maintenance" ball joints. I wonder if the replacements can be greased. Anyone know that answer? Too, I might check with Ford to see if there is any technical service bulletin about this. Sounds to me like a common problem. That being said, I'm not looking forward to changing ball joints on a 4x4, you know?

[hancockcowboy]

wiwaniuk, my truck has 157k on it. its is completely stock except for a ranch hand winch bumper. heres something else you might check. on your front tires turn your wheel all the way to the left and check the tread on the inside of your right tire( repeat on other side). ball joints may cause abnormal wear on your front tires.

[99Smokin73Stroker]

I need to get my ball joints replaced but they don't look to be out of camber no matter what angle I look at them. I've checked every week for abnormal wear and still haven't seen anything yet. As soon as I get some stinkin money i'll get them done....
Anyone see the article in the month's Truckin' magazine on gas vs. diesel? It gave yet another few explanations for the high diesel prices in the article somewhere. When will the excuses end?
Merry expletive Christmas to Exxon, Shell, and BP oil companies.....I wonder if the executives at those companies with their billion dollar profits are having any trouble paying for fuel?

[wiwaniuk]

okay han****cowboy. My front tires are cupping and they are worn more to the inside. I thought it was just toe. My truck only has 48k on it, so I really would not believe that the ball joints are bad. All that being said, I'll jack up the front end and see. Thanks.

[99Smokin73Stroker]

hard to believe isn't it? But consider all the extra weight and stress that's being exerted on the front end from the diesel engine. I don't think 48k is too bad actually..