Frame - Popping or Creaking Noise: Overview
Article No.97-3-10
02/03/97
^ FRAME - "POPPING/CREAKING" - FASTENER REPLACEMENT
^ NOISE - "POPPING/CREAKING" - FRONT FRAME OR SUSPENSION BRACKETS
LIGHT TRUCK:
1980-96 BRONCO, F-150, F-250 LD
1980-97 F-250 HD, F-350
1988-97 F SUPER DUTY, F-47
This TSB article is being republished in its entirety to include vehicles built through the 1997 model year and to update the Transmission Crossmember Service Procedure.
ISSUE:
A "popping/creaking" sound may come from the area of the front frame or suspension brackets. This may occur because of a slip/stick motion at a loose rivet or bolt in a frame crossmember or a suspension bracket (radius arm, spring tower, spring shackle, etc.).
ACTION:
Use the following Diagnostic Procedure to determine the location of the noise. Replace the suspected fastener(s) by referring to the following Repair Procedure for details.
Parts Block
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: 96-15-11
SUPERSEDES: 96-4-11
WARRANTY STATUS: Eligible Under The Provisions Of Bumper To Bumper Warranty Coverage For 1992-96 Model Years, Basic Warranty Coverage For All Others
OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME
970310A Perform Diagnostics - 0.7 Hr.
Includes Road Test
970310B "Huck Fastener" - Replace 1.1 Hr.
(Repair A) - Includes
Additional Road Test And
Transmission
Crossmember Repair
(Repair D) - Not To Be
Used With Operation D
970310CA # 1 Crossmember And 0.9 Hr.
Other Rivets - Replace
Two (Repairs B And C)
970310CB # 1 Crossmember And 1.3 Hrs.
Other Rivets - Replace
Three (Repairs B And C)
970310CC # 1 Crossmember And 1.7 Hrs.
Other Rivets - Replace
Four (Repairs B And C)
970310CT # 1 Crossmember And 2.1 Hrs.
Other Rivets - Replace
Five Or More (Repairs B
And C)
970310C # 1 Crossmember And 0.5 Hr.
Other Rivets - Replace
One (Repairs B And C)
970310D Transmission 0.5 Hr.
Crossmember (Repair D) -
Not To Be Used With
Operation B
970310E Radius Arm Bracket 0.2 Hr.
(Repair E) - Inspect And
Check Fastener Torque
970310FT Radius Arm Bracket - 1.3 Hrs.
Replace Both (Repair E) -
Not To Be Used With
Operations G And GT
970310F Radius Arm Bracket - 0.7 Hr.
Replace One (Repair E) -
Not To Be Used With
Operations G And GT
97O310GT Radius Arm Bracket Rivet 0.9 Hr.
- Replace Both (Repair E)
- Not To Be Used With
Operations F And FT
970310G Radius Arm Bracket Rivet 0.5 Hr.
- Replace One (Repair E) -
Not To Be Used With
Operations F And FT
970310HA Spring Tower Rivet - 1.0 Hr.
Replace Two (Repair F)
97O310HB Spring Tower Rivet - 1.4 Hrs.
Replace Three (Repair F)
970310HC Spring Tower Rivet - 1.8 Hrs.
Replace Four (Repair F)
97O310HT Spring Tower Rivet - 2.2 Hrs.
Replace Five Or More
(Repair F)
970310H Spring Tower Rivet - 0.6 Hr.
Replace One (Repair F)
970310IA Front Leaf Spring Bracket 0.9 Hr.
Rivet - Replace Two
(Repair G)
970310IB Front Leaf Spring Bracket 1.3 Hrs.
Rivet - Replace Three
(Repair G)
970310IC Front Leaf Spring Bracket 1.7 Hrs.
Rivet - Replace Four
(Repair G)
970310IT Front Leaf Spring Bracket 2.1 Hrs.
Rivet - Replace Five Or
More (Repair G)
9703101 Front Leaf Spring Bracket 0.5 Hr.
Rivet - Replace One
(Repair G)
970310J Axle Pivot Bracket - 0.2 Hr.
Inspect And Check
Fastener Torque
DEALER CODING
CONDITION
BASIC PART NO. CODE
3B095 FOR REPAIR PROCEDURE
E 56
3B178 FOR REPAIR PROCEDURE
H 56
5004 FOR REPAIR PROCEDURE
C 56
5020 FOR REPAIR PROCEDURE
A 56
5020 FOR REPAIR PROCEDURE
B 56
5060 FOR REPAIR PROCEDURE
D 56
5340 FOR REPAIR PROCEDURE
G 56
5A306 FOR REPAIR PROCEDURE
F 56
OASIS CODES: 305000, 390000, 702000, 702100