2001 Ford Taurus Front End Clunking Noise

Tiny
KEIBIE40
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 113,000 MILES
I have an irritating clunking noise when driven slowly forward or turning over rough bumpy surfaces or large bumps. While driving over normal surfaces at higher speeds there is no detectable noise at all. However, I have replaced all of the below items after zero success with multiple Ford Service Dapartments and multiple Indepentent Specialty Shops figuring out what was causing the noise. The NOISE was there BEFORE and still REMAINS after all of the below was done.

4 New Monroe Quick Struts
2 New Moog Ball Joints
2 New Pairs Moog Sway Bar End Links (Both Front & Both Rear)
1 New Motorcraft Front Sway Bar (New Bushings are pre-secured to the Bar)
1 New Motorcraft Rear Sway Bar (New Bushings are pre-secured to the Bar)
2 New Moog Inner Tie Rods
2 New Moog Outer Tie Rods
2 New Axle Hub Assemblies
2 New Motorcraft Front Axles (Left Side & Right Side) and output shaft seals.
3 New Motorcraft Motor Mounts (Front, Rear & Top)
1 New Motorcraft Transmission Mount
2 New Motorcraft Control Arms (Left & Right) with new bushings built in.
1 Pair Motorcraft Front Subframe Bushings
1 Pair Motorcraft Rear Subframe Bushings
1 Pair New Motorcraft Rotors
1 Pair New Motorcraft Loaded Calipers
All New Motorcraft Exhaust Hangers, Muffler & Flange Gaskets.
8 New Tires (2nd set Road Force Balanced at under 10 lbs of roadforce).
All 4 wheels always torqued at 90lbs (Ford range is 85lbs through 105lbs)
4 wheels purchased, installed and inspected for warp and run-out and everything verified to be within spec.
New Alignment (as I watched) perfect to spec Camber, Caster & Toe.
Transmission thoroughly inspected with the pan removed and no metal shavings at all (I have it flushed every 30K miles faithfully).
Steering Gear thoroughly inspected with no looseness discovered. I also have it flushed every 30K miles).

The bottom line, is that after all of the Proffesional Inspections and no answers I did the silly thing of doing all of the above in my personal persuit of solving the problem. My end result is the same as it was before I spent a ton of money. That irritating clunking noise is still there on the passenger side and it is still driving me nuts. Hopefully you are more successful at helping me figure out what my noise is, because I have been painfully unsuccessful.
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010 AT 11:58 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
GRADYBLAKLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Did you ever resolve this issue
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Thursday, September 1st, 2011 AT 6:16 PM
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
Some auto places have microphone system you can attach to various parts of suspension to help locate noises. You might try that? They may even rent it out at some auto parts stores.
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Saturday, October 22nd, 2011 AT 11:19 AM
Tiny
LAMASIMOUSE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have the same issue with my 2001 Taurus lx. I have replaced the steering rack and tie rod ends due to their being worn out. I also recently replaced both front rotors and pads due to high speed vibration when braking. I am also at a loss as to why I hear random clunking and can sometimes feel that clunk in the drivers side floorboard.
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Sunday, November 17th, 2019 AT 6:18 PM
Tiny
GRADYBLAKLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
My clunking was surprising but simple sway bar link, local shop diagnosed and replaced drivers side and no more clunking
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Monday, November 18th, 2019 AT 7:44 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,463 POSTS
Sway bar links and bushings are very common causes of front end noise. As are suspension bushings in some of the newer designs where they use the bushing for support in multiple directions. This is even worse in designs where they used multiple links to replace simple A-arm designs.
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Thursday, November 21st, 2019 AT 8:03 AM

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