My front end is NOT a musical instrument...

I

imported_truzoom

New member
I have noticed that my truck has started to make a metallic vibrating noise whenever I turn the steering wheel or sometimes during braking. If you think of how a high school period bell sounds, it's similar although a bit more tinny. I haven't been able to find anything on this on any of my dedicated F150 forums, so I come seeking the advice of you guys.



It's an '02 with about 37k miles on it now. The sound seems to be coming more from the driver's side front wheel area. Any suggestions?
 
Tried, but not having a lift or jack, I can't get a very good view. I thought about one of these days getting a long bristled brush and going under and sweeping at parts to see what jingles.
 
i just had a though of what it could be... it may be that your engine is knocking.. maybe.. have you tried using a higher octane when refueling?
 
F-150...so I'm assuming it's a Ford right? If so, good luck with your problem...all my friends that have Fords keep whining about how much it has to be fixed, so God speed to you!
 
I was thinking the same thing :lol



Does this sound continue as long as you're braking or through the entire turn? Or is it just a quick jingle and it's gone?



I had a metallic noise that sounded just like what you're describing, and I changed my mind every day on where it appeared to come from. It ended up being a rattling lower heat shield. It only happened at ~3000-3200RPM, and that's where I normally shift, so it thought it was my clutch/tranny/shiifter. But I guess the engine just vibrates a different way at that RPM. I took the shield off, and it hasn't made the sound in months.

Not to say that that's your problem, but sometimes those sounds come from places you didn't think of. I'd just look around the whole engine bay and wheel wells for thin metal pieces and see what you can find. When you find various metal pieces, try to think if they would rattle or contact other metal parts when turning/braking.
 
brand bashing... I like My parent's Ford, it's a 97 Taurus Wagon, it's almost at 200k and we've used it for how many years now.. 9 almost? and the last time we had the transmission(it's an auto) flushed and fluid changed, the mechanic told us that it was in the best condition he's seen for a car that old :chuckle: no rust problems either, the only thing it suffers are about 15 dents and scratches, which i will fix this summer since i found out about this forum :woot2:



anyways, the next time you fill up, if it dissapears then it's probably pinging, when was the last time you chaned your oil and what viscosity was it?
 
Sorry Canada, I was directing that towards Kerisa who said "F-150...so I'm assuming it's a Ford right? If so, good luck with your problem...all my friends that have Fords keep whining about how much it has to be fixed, so God speed to you!"...



Anyways, I changed my oil just last week using Mobil Clean 5000 5w-20 and a Fram Tough Guard filter (I usually use motorcraft, but WM stopped carrying it so I got what was available).



I've heard that pinging is supposed to sound more like rocks tumbling on the inside of the engine, which makes me think I probably have more of a vibration issue.
 
This may be a little far out there but did you check the condition and tension of the power steering belt? I had a belt that was a little loose and when it would slap the power steering pulley it sounded like a bell being rung.

That could explain why it would happen when turning.
 
I am glad to report that I found the problem via some help on another forum (v6f150.com) and am now free of that dreaded ringing.



Here is the culprit. A engine hoist bracket that I'm told is used at the factory during assembly to lower the engine into the bay, so no purpose for the end consumer.

dsc020911tz.jpg




And where it was located:

dsc020923rv.jpg




The piece bolts right onto the nuts holding down the exhaust manifold, and apparently this bracket was held on by only 1 nut, so I'm not sure if thats default or if the other fell off some while back. It was actually so lose I took it off with just my fingers.



And the other one just for the hell of it:

dsc020968vz.jpg




I can't believe it was such a simple thing, and I can't imagine what I would have gone through if I took my truck to a shop.
 
Awesome! Luckily it was something you could easily fix. And lucky you could GET to it! Some engine bays are so tight nowadays that you can't even stuck your arm in anywhere.
 
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