Was the sound on one side? Mine is a 2013 with same mileage and issue. First got it in with 35,500 miles on it and they lubed the strut housing. clunk persisted. now just over 40,000 and it is worse. Only on right side though. How did you know it was the sway bar link? How did yo check it?
2013 Ford Explorer Limited/ Clunking Noise coming from front end!!!!
I am posting this because there is really no posts about the clunking noise problem I had with my 2013 Explorer. it was very frustrating because I first starting hearing a slight noise when my truck warranty was just about to expire at 35,500 miles. I brought it to the dealer and of course everything was fine, now that it has 41,000 miles the clunking noise got extremely bad and of course, no warranty. luckily it was just the passenger side front sway bar link. The part was very inexpensive at $45 and very easy to change. The noise sounds like a clunk every time you go over light bumps. on the highway, no noise. if you want to save $ just change it yourself. took me about 30 minutes, start to finish. I am sure there will be a ton of people having this issue.
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The part was actually very inexpensive. Under $50 from dealer. After reading a few complaints on different websites from other people I decided to give it a shot. When I pulled off the original link and compared it to the new one it was easy to diagnose. There's no way to check it unless you remove the link. Its very easy to change. Took me 30 minutes total including jacking up the car and taking off the wheel. I'm no big time mechanic but I refuse to get burned on labor charges for something that is not much work. If you hear a clunking noise I'm sure that's what it is.Was the sound on one side? Mine is a 2013 with same mileage and issue. First got it in with 35,500 miles on it and they lubed the strut housing. clunk persisted. now just over 40,000 and it is worse. Only on right side though. How did you know it was the sway bar link? How did yo check it?
Which part number did you get? There seem to be several different stabilizer bar links of different sizes. Basically did you get the shorter or the longer?The part was actually very inexpensive. Under $50 from dealer. After reading a few complaints on different websites from other people I decided to give it a shot. When I pulled off the original link and compared it to the new one it was easy to diagnose. There's no way to check it unless you remove the link. Its very easy to change. Took me 30 minutes total including jacking up the car and taking off the wheel. I'm no big time mechanic but I refuse to get burned on labor charges for something that is not much work. If you hear a clunking noise I'm sure that's what it is.
Thanks for the help.
Just wanted to say thanks for posting this. I was experiencing the same clunking/rattling sound on my 2012 explorer and replaced the passenger sway bar link today and it fixed the issue.
It was about $40 at NAPA.
I used a 21mm deep socket for both nuts. Once I loosened the nut i then tore off the rubber boot so i could grip the othe side of the bolt with pliers to keep it from spinning. Note: The bolt holding the bottom of the shock was in the way so I ended up unscrewing it to get it out of the way.
It was about $40 at NAPA.
I used a 21mm deep socket for both nuts. Once I loosened the nut i then tore off the rubber boot so i could grip the othe side of the bolt with pliers to keep it from spinning. Note: The bolt holding the bottom of the shock was in the way so I ended up unscrewing it to get it out of the way.
2015 Ford Explorer Sport
I just changed my Links on my 2015 Explorer Sport with 60,000 miles. I see no reason to replace only one, you can't tell if they are bad until you remove them. I ordered from Rockauto Heavy Duty Moog links. It cost me about $51.00 with shipping. If I went to Ford they would charge me about $60.00 just to tell me they are bad. It took me about an hour each. Most of the time was removing and installing the lower nuts. I could not use a socket, I had to use a open end box wrench. And only turn it abou a third turn and reset. Also the nuts are self locking so you need a wrench all the way. The clunking is gone. Like driving new vehicle.Just wanted to say thanks for posting this. I was experiencing the same clunking/rattling sound on my 2012 explorer and replaced the passenger sway bar link today and it fixed the issue.
It was about $40 at NAPA.
I used a 21mm deep socket for both nuts. Once I loosened the nut i then tore off the rubber boot so i could grip the othe side of the bolt with pliers to keep it from spinning. Note: The bolt holding the bottom of the shock was in the way so I ended up unscrewing it to get it out of the way.
Sounds like the problem on our 2002 Explorer. We've done almost the entire suspension, which was needed, but it's interesting they have no idea about the clunking noise. Of course, they'll do all of the expensive work prior to telling you they found the final (cheapest) thing making noise. Then they'll fix it. I agree with the other poster about moog and rock and diy. I did the rear. Check the bushings while your under there. As for diagnosing, you may be able to put a pry bar under the sway bar and see if there is too much give in the sway bar end link bushings. These suspensions seem like they use cheap parts from the factory. Wheel bearings, upper and lower ball joints, sway bar bushings and endlinks. It's understandable that things wear out but simultaneously and so expensive to fix!??I am posting this because there is really no posts about the clunking noise problem I had with my 2013 Explorer. it was very frustrating because I first starting hearing a slight noise when my truck warranty was just about to expire at 35,500 miles. I brought it to the dealer and of course everything was fine, now that it has 41,000 miles the clunking noise got extremely bad and of course, no warranty. luckily it was just the passenger side front sway bar link. The part was very inexpensive at $45 and very easy to change. The noise sounds like a clunk every time you go over light bumps. on the highway, no noise. if you want to save $ just change it yourself. took me about 30 minutes, start to finish. I am sure there will be a ton of people having this issue.
Actually you can check it grab the lower half of the sway bar and yank on it and you will hear it move if its looseThe part was actually very inexpensive. Under $50 from dealer. After reading a few complaints on different websites from other people I decided to give it a shot. When I pulled off the original link and compared it to the new one it was easy to diagnose. There's no way to check it unless you remove the link. Its very easy to change. Took me 30 minutes total including jacking up the car and taking off the wheel. I'm no big time mechanic but I refuse to get burned on labor charges for something that is not much work. If you hear a clunking noise I'm sure that's what it is.
any new updates on this clunking noise. I too was confident that it was the sway bar link set, I replaced it and it still has the clunking noise. you can hear it even when not driving and just turning the wheel while parked in my garage. even if I turn it just a little to the right. you'll hear the "clunk" any new findings? Thank you
Oh well that changes things lol its probably the steering intermediate shaft that connect to the rack ive done a few of those at my jobany new updates on this clunking noise. I too was confident that it was the sway bar link set, I replaced it and it still has the clunking noise. you can hear it even when not driving and just turning the wheel while parked in my garage. even if I turn it just a little to the right. you'll hear the "clunk" any new findings? Thank you
@Noneill525 - thank you. I only hear it from the passenger side but I will check out the intermediate shaft.
Yea it could be a possibility the noise travels through the rack...but hope you figure it out...could also be a strut mount binding or popping ive seen that before@Noneill525 - thank you. I only hear it from the passenger side but I will check out the intermediate shaft.
That would be my next guess, the strut mount, that would be the top piece right? Where I’d have to remove the whole strut assembly amd compress the springs?Yea it could be a possibility the noise travels through the rack...but hope you figure it out...could also be a strut mount binding or popping ive seen that before
Yea but it might be easier just to get quick struts that already come assembled with the mounts and everything ready to go
I am having the same annoying problem with my 2013 explorer. Ford cannot figure it out. My husband changed the struts, bushings, links, you name it, he has changed it. So we took it to Ford. Cant find where the noise is coming from. Ford put on new sway bar links and struts. Sounded a lot better when i picked it up then the noise slowly came back and worse! They have my car now, I am waiting to hear from them. They are putting a chassis ear to it. We will see.
Tgrimes - any new findings to that clunking noise from the Ford dealer? Thank uI am having the same annoying problem with my 2013 explorer. Ford cannot figure it out. My husband changed the struts, bushings, links, you name it, he has changed it. So we took it to Ford. Cant find where the noise is coming from. Ford put on new sway bar links and struts. Sounded a lot better when i picked it up then the noise slowly came back and worse! They have my car now, I am waiting to hear from them. They are putting a chassis ear to it. We will see.
Ford changed the sway bar links. Worked good for a couple days. Making noise again. My husband is going to put Ford bushings on and see what that does.Tgrimes - any new findings to that clunking noise from the Ford dealer? Thank u
Ford said they don’t know what it is🤷🏼♀️Ford changed the sway bar links. Worked good for a couple days. Making noise again. My husband is going to put Ford bushings on and see what that does.
Hi There, my 2014 “Exploder” is has similar noises & problems. My husband has changed the sway bar links, control arm, Ti-rod, & another part forgot the name. For about a week the noises calmed down, now they are back same noises but a lot louder & frequent.Ford said they don’t know what it is🤷🏼♀️
Finally solved my issue. IT IS the upper strut mount for me. Ordered parts from FORD GIANT, parts came in, rented spring compressor for the coil at auto zone and I was done in an hour. Thank you guys
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